R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BATHINDA
TWO FOUND DEAD: A dead body was found near the local railway line bypass on the Naruana road. The identity of the man of about 40 years could not be ascertained. The residents said he was a beggar and it seemed that he died due to excessive heat. Another person died at the local railway station on Saturday. He has been identified as Sunil Kumar, a resident of Jholkan in Sirsa district of Haryana.

TEACHERS’ FRONT: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF): president — Mr Madan Pal Bhagta; and secretary — Mr Major Basant Kumar.

LUDHIANA
PAINTING CONTEST: A painting competition was organised at CFC Public School, BRS Nagar, by the ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company on Friday. More than 1000 students from the school in the age group four to 12 participated. Similar contests would be organised in other schools and prizes would be announced some time later, said a corporate agent of the company.

ANIMALS’ VACCINATION: Experts from the College of Veterinary Sciences, Punjab Agricultural University, have advised farmers to get their animals vaccinated against gal ghotu and black quarter diseases. They said the animals should be saved from ticks, lice and flies as these suck blood, cause irritation and spread diseases. In view of the rising temperature, the animals should be kept in shade and provided sufficient amount of clean, fresh drinking water, added the experts.

ADVICE FOR FRUIT TREE GROWERS: Horticultural experts from the PAU have advised farmers to carry out pruning of ber trees as these shed leaves and become dormant at the end of this month. To avoid adverse effects of hot weather, trunks of trees should be white-washed. The experts also said that water spray on fruits like litchi, pomegranate, oranges and grapes could prevent their summer splitting. Peach and plum fruits need regular irrigation for the development of fruits to their proper size.

ORGANISED: Punjab National Bank, Ludhiana region, has organised a seminar on Art of Living. The purpose was to teach the staff members how to move quickly through negative emotions and feel generally joyous in life. The session pepped up the spirits of staff and taught them how to get rid of the pressures of daily hectic routine and other tensions through the process of meditation. Mr Munish Chopra and Mr Anil Kalra, both chartered accountants, delivered the lectures. The techniques taught during the course help to lead a stress-free life.

MOP-UP POLIO DRIVE: The Civil Surgeon, Dr J.S. Bhullar, along with Dr Karanvir Singh, Regional Coordinator, WHO, visited many areas in the city to monitor the ‘Mop-up Polio Campaign’ here on Friday. According to a press note, Dr J.G.Vohra, Surveillance Officer, WHO, also visited Sahnewal block, Oswal Mills area, Moti Nagar and New Moti Nagar to monitor the campaign.

MOGA
THIEF HELD: The police arrested Paras Ram, a member of a gang involved in stealing tractors, cars and other items on May 8. He has been sent to police custody till May 13. This was stated by Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, in a press note.

LABOURER KILLED: A labourer from Uttar Pradesh was buried alive on Saturday while working at a tubewell at Baghapurana town in this district. The deceased, Rajinder Shah, was digging soil when a mound fell on him, burying him alive.

COP BOOKED: The police has registered a case of corruption against the SHO of the Dharamkot police station. The SHO, Talwinder Jeet Singh, had reportedly demanded Rs 12,000 from Pyara Singh of Sherpur Tayaba village in this district to help him get his occupied land vacated.

MAN ROBBED: One person, Gurmel Sharma of Baghapurana town in this district, was robbed of Rs 1 lakh when some unidentified persons snatched the money from him while he was returning home from work. He had received it from a trader as his payment for procurement of foodgrain.

PATHANKOT
MUSHAIRA: The Anjuman-e-Dostan-Adab will organise the 26th all-India mushaira here on May 18. Noted poets like Bekul Utsahi, Nida Fazli, Rayees Ansari, Ashok Chakradhar, Wasim Barelvi, Nasim Nikhat and Mallika Nasim will participate.

CAMP: A free eye check-up camp was organised by the Nagni Mata Manav Kalyan Samiti at Nagni Mata Temple, 15 km from here, on Friday. Medicines, spectacles and lenses were distributed free of cost. 

TALWANDI SABO
COURT TIMINGS: Mr V.M. Jain, Inspecting Judge of the district, on Saturday during his visit to the local Judicial Courts said the time courts during summer would be changed from 7 am to 1 pm (existing time) to 8 am to 2 pm. This was stated in a written statement issued by Mr Ashok Kumar, secretary of the local Bar Association.

HARYANA

AMBALA
PIG MENACE: The Federation of Welfare Societies has sought controlling of pig menace on the pattern of the Chandigarh Administration. The secretary general of the federation, Mr N.D. Arora, in a letter addressed to the Deputy Commissioner, Ambala said the municipal staff with the help of the police and health staff should check the pig menace on the pattern of the Chandigarh Administration. The federation has expressed resentment over the indifference of the Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar and health authorities towards the problem.

MOTHERS’ DAY: The Mother’s Day was celebrated by students of Shree Manibhdar Veer Public School, Ambala City. The Principal, Ms Punam Dogra said tiny tots presented worksheets and Mother’s Day cards and well -crafted envelopes. A parent -teacher meet was also held at which students were encouraged to accompany their parents.

TRAFFIC RULES: Head Constable Subhash Chander of Police Station, Ambala cantonment delivered a lecture on traffic rules. He gave instructions on road safety. The lecture was attended by the students and the staff.

FATEHABAD
PESTICIDES SEIZED: The district authorities raided the premises of a pesticide dealer at Rattia in the district on Friday and seized a big haul of spurious pesticides. The exact quantity of the pesticides confiscated was not known.

YAMUNANAGAR
MAN COMMITS SUICIDE: Thirty-year-old Kehar Singh of Kandi Kalan village in the district committed suicide at his house on Friday. The postmortem examination was conducted as the civil hospital and the body was handed over to his relatives. In another incident, eight-year-old Kanta Devi was crushed under a school bus at the Yamunanagar bypass on Friday. She later died in hospital.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

PAONTA SAHIB
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS: Dr Tajinder Singh, President of the Himachal State Akali Dal, has appointed new executive members of the party. They are Mr Ajit Singh Sidhu as Senior Vice-President, Mr Parminder Singh as Vice-President, Mr Tarlochan Singh as General Secretary, Master Jagir Singh as Secretary, Mr Iqbal Singh as Treasurer and Mr Devinder Singh, Mr Tarshim Singh, Mr Gurpreet Singh, Mr Harbhajan Singh and Mr Inder Singh as executive members.