R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

INAUGURATED: Mr Brij Mohan Kapoor, Mayor, inaugurated a plantation drive here on Wednesday to mark Vanamahotsava at Kashmir Avenue. Ms Renu Goyal, counsellor of the area, was also present on the occasion.

AHMEDGARH
PROTEST MARCH: An all-party protest march was held here after the cremation of Mr Raj Kumar, who was shot by unidentified assailants on Wednesday. The town also observed a complete bandh till noon on Thursday in protest against the indifferent attitude of the administration towards deteriorating law and order situation. Vaious social and political organisations, besides educational institutions, took part in the march, which ended at Bhagat Singh Chowk here. Mr Satish Jain, (senior vice-president, BJP), Mr Chiranji Lal Puri (former national executive member, BJP), Mr Jagwant Jaggie (president, SAD), Mr Rajnish Sharma (executive member, PPCC), Mr Jitendra Bhola (a member of CPI), Mr Ravinder Puri (president, Press Union) and Mr Bhajan Singh (president, Khalsa School) were prominent among those who spoke on the occasion. They demanded the arrest of the assailants. The DSP, assured them of immediate action in this regard.

JAGRAON
MISSING MAN TRACED: Mohan Singh of Chhajjawal village, who had been missing since August 3, has been produced at the police station here by a former sarpanch of Dalla village. The police is questioning Mohan Singh, who was an employee of vend contractors — Bhupinder Singh and Pappi. The police had registered a case against them under Sections 364 and 34 of the IPC, on the basis of a complaint lodged by Manjit Kaur, wife of Mohan Singh.

ARRESTED: The police has arrested Amarjit Kaur, a resident of Badshahpur village, Barnala district, who had been evading arrest for more than two years. The accused was caught while snatching a gold chain from Balwinder Kaur of Gondwal at Raikot bus stand, about five years ago.

LUDHIANA
DEAD: An old women Uma Devi, (58), was found dead in her house in Sherpur area on Wednesday. According to the police sources, her daughter and son-in-law found her body at their residence in the evening. There was no apparent sign of injury on the body of the deceased. The body had been sent for a post-mortem examination. The daughter of the women alleged that Rs 10,000 and gold ornaments were missing from the house.

MEETING: The Janata Dal (Secular) state unit office-bearers, working committee members and district presidents will meet at Circuit House here on Sunday. According to Mr Dildhiraj Singh Mann, district president of the party, Mr Harish Khanna, President, Janata Dal (S), Punjab, will preside over the meeting. The meeting would deliberate on several issues like political situation of the state, coming assembly elections and the party membership drive. Senior party leaders, including Dr Bapu Kaldate, secretary general, and Ms Promila Dandvate were expected to attend the meeting.

STADIUM: The work on construction of Shahid Bhagat Singh Stadium in Punjab Mata Nagar on the Pakhowal road here has been taken by the Municipal Corporation. According to the area councillor, Giani Baldev Singh, the work was expected to be completed within next six months and the stadium would be inaugurated at a state-level function on March 23, 2002. The stadium, besides an international level football ground, would have a seating capacity of 15,000 spectators. The foundation stone of the stadium was laid by the City Mayor, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, and the MC Commissioner Dr S.S. Sandhu, last year.

MACHHIWARA
SEIZED: The police on Wednesday recovered 530 gm of opium from Jaikaran, hailing from UP. According to Mr Sushil Kumar, DSP, the accused was arrested from Sehjo Majra bus stand during a night patrol. A case has been registered under Sections 18, 61 and 65, NDPS Act. In another incident, the local police booked Mr Prabh Dev Singh under Sections 307 and 427, IPC, on a complaint by Mr Harjit Singh Chhaurian. It also arrested Janak Raj, Rajinder Kumar, Karnail Singh alias Bittu, and Gurcharan Singh alias Pappu under Sections 13, 3 and 67, Gambling Act.

NUTRITION DAY: The local block office of the Social Security, Women and Child Welfare Department, Punjab, organised a function at Powat village, here on Thursday, to mark Nutrition Day. Mr S. S. Brar, SDM, was the chief guest at the function. Speaking on the occasion, he appreciated the services of the department for providing facilities under Integrated Child Development Scheme. Addressing the gathering, Mr S.S. Dhir, SMO, spoke about the benefits of nutritious diet.

VANAMAHOTSAVA: The newly-formed local Lions Club observed Vanamohatsava by planting about 100 saplings on the premises of Government Middle School, Ratipur. Speaking on the occasion, Mr S.S. Brar, SDM, urged the school staff and villagers to look after the plants. Prominent among those present at the function were Mr Nirmal Singh Nagra, president, Aarhtiya Association; Mr Tejinder Singh Kooner, district vice-president of the Congress; and Mr Rajbir Mangat, president of the local unit of Lions Club. Mr Brar also presented blood donor certificates to Mr Guljinder Singh Gill, Mr Gurnam Singh Nagra and Mr Davinder Singh Samrala. In another function organised by the Youth Akali Dal, around 150 saplings were planted on the premises of Government High School, Powat. Mr Brar was the chief guest at the function. Mr Kulwinder Singh Bhatti and Mr Harjatinder Singh Powat were also present on the occasion. 

PATHANKOT
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Rashtriya Chetna Parishad: president — Mr Vaishno Malhotra; vice-president — Mr Subash Rehlen; general secretary — Mr Raman Handa; and treasurer — Mr Mahesh Mahajan.

APPOINTED: Mr Avinash Sharma, vice-president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Human Rights Department, has appointed Mr Nitin Mahajan, alias Laddi, as president of the local unit of the Human Rights Department. He was further authorised to form the city committee and ward wise units by Mr Avinash Sharma.

PATIALA
TALENT SEARCH: The result of the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)-2001 has been declared. Students from city who have been selected are Tania Jain, Jyotisterna, both from Our Lady of Fatima Convent High School and Manpreet Billing, Prasun Gupta and Mrinal Mahindra from DAV Public School. These students will be awarded scholarships for their further studies after class X. The result is available at www.ncert.com. 

RALLY: On a call by the Punjab circle, unions of the E-III and the line staff (group D), a massive rally was organised by the telecom and postal employees on Thursday, in front of the Telephone Bhavan here. 

MUNICIPAL STRIKE: Municipal workers through out the state have decided to strike work on Thursday in protest against the abolition of octroi. The Punjab Municipal Workers Struggle Committee has threatened to stop water supply and also suspend other official works. The committee has also decided to hold marches and wear black badges. 

JOINED: Dr Inderjeet Kaur Walia on Thursday joined as civil surgeon here. Earlier she was working as deputy director in the office of the DHS, Punjab, and was looking after the projects on tuberculosis, leprosy and the RCH. 

SAMRALA
RESENTMENT: The Revenue Patwaris’ Union, Punjab, has expressed its resentment over non-fulfilment of promises made by the Chief Minister on January 30, 2001. Talking to newspersons at the local Civil Rest House, Mr Gurmel Singh and Mr Sukhdev Singh Chauhan, state president and state treasurer of the union, respectively, said Mr Parkash Singh Badal had promised to reinstate the dismissed patwaris, recall those patwaris who had been sent to the Consolidation Department, and release the salary for the period of the strike. But none of the commitments had been honoured, they lamented. The union leaders added that no service benefits had been given to the patwaris, reinstated as per the order of Financial Commissioner (Revenue). They have issued an ultimatum to the Chief Minister to either fulfil the promises by September 15, or face an agitation by the patwaris.

ACQUITTED: Ms Asha Mehta, Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, acquitted Mr Harpal Singh of Madpur village on Wednesday. A case was filed against him under Sections 279, 337 and 427, IPC, on a complaint filed by Mr Jatinder Kumar of Samrala, who had alleged that Harpal had seriously injured him due to rash driving on February 28.

MEETING: A meeting of the Dangal Committee, was held here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Mr Tarlochan Singh Kang, president of the committee. Later, talking to mediapersons at the local Civil Rest House, Mr Yash Pal Sharma, a noted boxer, said it was unanimously decided in the meeting to request Mr Jagdish Bhola, a recipient of Arjuna Award, to accept the challenge of Bharat Kesri Parminder Doomchherri for a bout. Among others who attended the meeting were Jagtar Singh Bhullar, Bahadur Singh Kang, Nirmal Singh Kang, Sikander Singh Dhillon and Sohan Singh.

CHANDIGARH

ROTARY CAMP: A medical check-up camp was organised by the Rotary Club, SAS Nagar and the local Municipal Council at Sahi Majra village here on Thursday. As many as 250 patients were examined during the camp by Dr Amarjit Kaur and Dr Joshi. Mr Kulwant Singh, president of the civic body, inaugurated the camp. The camp was organised under the Swaran Jayanti Sehri Yojna in continuation of the series of medical camps being organised by the Rotary Club, said Mr Manpreet Singh Gandhoke, president of the Rotary Club. 

HARYANA

AMBALA
SEX DETERMINATION: The president, IMA, Haryana, Dr D.S. Jaspal, on Thursday condemned the incident in which a doctor was allegedly involved in the sex determination test. Dr Jaspal said the lady doctor in Palwal was conducting the test during a raid conducted by the Civil Surgeon. 

ENCROACHMENTS: Encroachments on the roads in five different areas of Ambala City, were on Thursday cleared by a team led by the secretary of the municipal council, Ambala City. The encroachments were cleared at Kotwali Sarafa Bazar, Dal Bazar, Patel Road and Jagadhari Gate. Municipal officials have appealed that the people should not throw polythene bags in the drains. Also, dairy owners must apply for licence and people should not abandon cattle on the streets, they said. 

ADJOURNED: A city court on Thursday adjourned the S.S. Saini case pertaining to the disappearance of three businessmen of Punjab. Four Punjab Police officials are allegedly involved in the disappearance case. The incident had taken place about six years ago. 

SPEED POST: The Department of Post will restructure the speed post rates from Monday. The Chief Post Master General, Haryana Circle, Mr T.R. Sharma, said distance slabs have been revised from the existing four slabs to five slabs for making the rates more rational. The weight slabs have also been rationalised and the weight slab of 50 gram has been abolished, he said. Mr Sharma said the speed post was in competition with the private couriers, who were employing aggressive marketing strategies, as well as, pricing methods. It is thus essential that speed post rates are competitive to increase its market share, he said. 

SONEPAT
SHOT DEAD: One person was shot dead and three others sustained bullet injuries in a clash between two groups of liquor contractors on the premises of a hotel on the G.T. Road, near Bahalgarh, 12 km from here, on Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Ashok of Narela (Delhi). The injured persons — Yashvir of Nathupur village and Om and Sheel Kumar of Khewra village in this district — were admitted to a hospital in Delhi. The police has registered a case against the assailants.

NOMINATED: The Haryana Government has nominated Mr Ashok Chhabra, a municipal councillor and close associate of Mr Dev Raj Dewan, an independent MLA, as member of the Haryana Planning Board with immediate effect.

STRIKE HELD: A section of the students of local CRA College and Tikka Ram Girls College observed a strike on Wednesday in protest against the hike in tuition fee. They also held a demonstration and raised slogans against the management.

ELECTED: Mr Ramesh Gehlawat was elected sarpanch of Nizampur Majra village in a byelection held on Wednesday. He defeated his rival candidate Mr Ram Kumar by one vote.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

NURPUR
DISMISSED: The local Subdivisional Judicial Magistrate on Wednesday dismissed a defamation suit filed against Rakesh Bharti, journalist of a daily Hindi newspaper and president of the local press club, by a woman member of the local block development committee (BDC).

WORKSHOP: Dr S.K. Gupta, Vice-Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University, inaugurated a one-week workshop on “Human resource planning and development” being organised by the university in collaboration with the Population Research Centre and Applied Manpower Research, Delhi, on Tuesday. He said development was not a unidimensional concept but also included equity, efficiency and sustainability. He said the all-round sustainable development of a country could be achieved only when both renewable and non-renewable, resources were utilised in a proper way.