R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
VIOLATION: The Seva Sukhmani Society has written to Akal Takht about violation of “maryada” at Bhoma village, where about 300 bottles of liquor are offered as parsad daily at the samadhi of Baba Rode in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib. Mr Sarup Singh, president of the society, alleged that the patwari of the area was influencing villagers to continue the practice.

HOSHIARPUR
PANEL FORMED: Mr Kuldip Nanda, president of the District Congress Committee, has constituted an eight-member committee to probe the charges levelled by local Congress workers against some of the party leaders of the district at a meeting of the committee. In a press note issued here on Saturday Mr Nanda stated that it would work under his leadership.

DEPUTATION: A deputation of the District Vaids Mandal, Hoshiarpur, led by its chairman Suman Kumar Sud met Mr Tikshan Sud, MLA, here on Saturday and apprised him of the problems posed by RMPs. Mr Tikshan Sud assured the deputation that he would raise the issue in the coming session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Indian Medical Association: president — Dr Rajinder Sharma; honorary secretary — Dr A.K. Juneja; chief patron — Dr B.G. Goyal; patron — Dr Kiranjit Kumar; vice-president — Dr B.S. Ahuja; joint secretary — Dr Ruby Choudhary; and finance secretary — Dr Arun Tuknayat.

LUDHIANA
CHEQUES DISBURSED: At least 34 cheques under the shagun scheme were distributed among the beneficiaries on the local market committee premises by Mr Kamaljit Singh Dhillon, son of Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, MLA, Mr Surinder Singh Chana, tehsildar, and Mr Dharampaul, president Nagar Panchayat, here on Thursday.

MANSA
COMMITTEE FORMED: On the directions issued by the Supreme Court, a two-member committee consisting of Senior Superintendent of Police and Civil Surgeon here has been constituted to monitor the maintenance of deranged persons in the district. This was disclosed in an official press note issued by the public relations office here on Saturday. The committee will submit its report regarding mental hospitals, nursing homes and of persons suffering from mental diseases to the state government.

MEETING HELD: A meeting of chemists of the district was held here on Friday which was addressed by Mr Sudhanshu Shekhar Srivastva, Senior Superintendent of Police. Mr Shrivastva expressed concern over the increasing use of intoxicants by the youth.

MOGA
RACKET UNEARTHED: The police claimed to have unearthed a fake currency notes racket by arresting six persons and recovering fake currency notes of Rs 47,000 of Rs 500 denomination from them. District police chief Varinder Kumar told reporters here on Saturday that on a tip-off the police raided the house of a suspect Ranjit Singh on the outskirts of Kot-Tse-Khan on Friday night.

NAWANSHAHR
SEMINAR: The District Legal Services Authority on Saturday held a seminar on ‘free legal services’ at the Rotary Environment Mela being organised by the local Rotary Club at the ITI grounds with a view to creating awareness regarding various issues concerning society. Mr Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, Mr Gobinder Singh Matharu, both Additional and District Sessions Judge, Mr S.K. Sachdeva, CJM, Mr K. Raheja, Mr Rajiv Kalra (both judges), Mr Gian Chand Sareen and Mr S.K. Jain (both advocates), among others delivered lectures.’

TOOK OVER: The local SDM, Mr Amarjit Paul, has joined the local Improvement Trust as the Administrator following the dissolution of the trust by the Punjab Government. It was learnt that the orders about the dissolution were received here on Thursday and the SDM took charge on Saturday.

COLLEGE CELL: The local Guru Nanak College has set up its camp office-cum-counselling cell at Hargobind Nagar.

DOWRY COMPLAINT: Mr Joginder Singh of nearby Palli Uchchi village in a complaint lodged with the Hariana police on Thursday has accused the in-laws of his deceased sister Jaswant Kaur, alias Sandip Kaur (21), of murdering her for not bringing adequate dowry. A case has been registered under Sections 304B and 498A, IPC.

FUNCTION: Mr Gurbinder Singh Atwal, Parliamentary Secretary, Cooperation Department, on Saturday presided over a dividend distribution function organised by the Happowal Agricultural Cooperative Society at Happowal village, about 15 km from here, and distributed dividend cheques amounting to Rs 2.35 lakh among 1,160 shareholders. Mr Tarlochan Singh Sood, MLA, Banga, Mr Gurmit Singh Virk, Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Mr Mohan Lal Sunda, Manager, Nawanshahr Central Cooperative Bank, among others addressed the gathering.

STATIONERY FOR NEEDY: ‘Helping Hands’, a social work organisation, will distribute stationery and uniforms to the adopted and needy children at its annual distribution function to be held on Sunday at Sunflower Complex, Preet Nagar here. The president, Mr Vijay Gupta, informed that a medical check-up camp for children and general body meeting of the organisation will also be organised.

HARYANA

AMBALA
CLOTH EXHIBITION: Rajasthan Spinning and Weaving Mills organised an exhibition of its product Mayur Suiting here today. A conference of its state dealers was also held on this occasion. The Senior Marketing Manager of the mills, Mr Manoj Chanana, said 170 retail counters of Mayur Suitings had been running in the state. The distributor of the state, Mr Virdi Chand Jain, was also present.

MEETING: A meeting of the Haryana Roadways Workers Union was held under its president, Mr Baldev Singh Malik. He said they would not allow privatisation of the roadways. Union leaders Mr Dharam Singh and Mr Ishwar Das criticised the policy of privatisation. They demanded the regularisation of contract workers, increase in night allowance, introduction of new buses and filling up of vacant posts.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the General Merchants Association, Ambala Cantt its chairman — Mr Vishwa Prakash Walia; president — Mr Ram Prakash Gupta; general secretary — Mr Ashok Sabharwal, cashier — Mr Ramesh Madan; senior vice-president — Mr Sat Pal Singh Oberoi; vice-president — Mr Brij Gupta; joint secretary — Mr Rakesh Chaddha; financial adviser — Mr Brij Mohan Soni; joint cashier — Mr Rajinder Kumar; auditor — Mr Jagdeesh Sethi and project director — Mr Karam Singh.

BHIWANI
DRINKING WATER: Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala has said every effort will be made to provide adequate drinking water in view of ensuing summer in the state. He also directed the Public Health authorities to ensure sufficient supply of drinking water and disconnect the unauthorised water connections. He gave these directions while presiding over a monthly meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievances Committee at the Panchayat Bhavan here on Saturday. He also distributed 100 tri-cycles on behalf of the Red Cross Society to handicapped persons on the first death anniversary of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal.

KURUKSHETRA
ART EXHIBITION: Meenu Birwal, an MA fine arts student of Kurukshetra University, whose exhibition of applied art work was inaugurated by the University Finance Officer, Mr Hukam Singh, at the University Faculty Hall on Friday, has launched a social campaign against female foeticide through her art.