R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
HELD: The district police has arrested nine gamblers and recovered more than Rs 2000 from them. They have been identified as Jang Bahadur and Parkash Chand of Khuh Korrian, Pankaj Kumar of Katra Bhai, Sant Singh and Rajiv Kumar of Katra Bhai, Sant Singh and Lalit Pathak of Khuh Korrian, Surinder Kumar of Lohgarh, Subhas Kumar of Lambawali, Rakesh Kumar of Khuh Korrian and Sudarshan Kumar of Katra Dullo.

RALLY: Activists of the Punjab Youth Congress headed by Mr Sanjiv Tangri, general secretary, held an anti-drug rally and burnt intoxicants at Hall Gate here on Saturday. The rally started from Congress Bhavan and ended at Hall Gate.

CAMP: The All-India Pingalwara Cheritable Society on Saturday organised a blood donation camp on the occasion of the annual death anniversary of Bhagat Puran Singh, founder of the society, here. Nearly 100 devotees donated blood. Mr Raghunandan Lal Bhatia, MP, inaugurated the camp.

GONIANA
GOODS STOLEN: Thieves broke into the house of Mr Bisakha Khan and decamped with gold and silver jewellery, watches and other household goods worth about Rs 30,000 here on Saturday. Sources said Baisakha Khan and his other family members were sleeping in the courtyard at the time of the incident. A case has been registered.

GURDASPUR
ARRESTED: The Pathankot police on Saturday arrested Kamaldeep, alias Deepa, a resident of Sujanpur for smuggling illicit liquor from Chhanni Beli village in Himachal Pradesh and selling it in the district. According to Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, 1.5 ml of illicit liquor was recovered from his possession.

HOSHIARPUR
KILLED: Ravinder Singh, a conductor in a private transport company, was killed while his father, Mohinder Singh, mother, Mohinder Kaur, and sister, Seema, were seriously wounded at Gambowal village on Saturday. According to Mohinder Singh, father of the deceased, Inderjit Singh, Jasbir Kaur, Harbans Kaur, Amarjit Singh, Sonu, Jagga, Monu and others assaulted Ravinder Singh when he was going to work on scooter. He died on the spot. Mohinder Singh his wife and daughter were also assaulted. The Dasuya police has registered a case.

LUDHIANA
RALLY: The Punjab Youth Congress organised an awareness cycle rally on ‘female foeticide’ here on Sunday. The rally started from Sardar Nagar, covered areas like Shivpuri road, Daresi road, Chaura Bazar, Bajwa Nagar, Kalyan Nagar, Field Ganj and Ghanta Ghar. Mr Manoj Rawal, secretary, Punjab Youth Congress, under whose leadership the rally was organised said unethical practice of female foeticide, should be immediately curbed. More than 40 persons participated in this rally.

HOMAGE PAID: A special function was arranged at Arya Samaj, Dal Bazar on Sunday morning to pay homage to the martyr Tejpal Sathi. This was the day when 18 years ago , he fell prey to the bullets of terrorists at Dayanand Hospital. The function was organised by Shahid Tejpal Sathi Memorial Society.

B.ED COURSE: A large number of students were seen queuing up for admission to the B.Ed and BIT courses run by Indira Gandhi Open University. About 250 students were seen at Guru Nanak Girls College, Model Town. The Director, Mr Ramesh Chander who manages the branch of Indira Gandhi Open University, talking to the correspondent, said a new study centre of the university has started functioning at A.S. College, Khanna.The centre would be managed by Mr. H.S. Behal. A special diploma to give detailed information about AIDS and HIV Virus and Family education has been introduced.

MEDICAL CAMP: A free drug de-addiction and medical check-up camp was organised by Dr D.N. Kotnis Acupuncture Hospital, Salem Tabri, in coordination with the District Bar Association, Lions Club, Ludhiana Royal, Lions Club, Ludhiana Greater, and Bhagwan Valmik Youth Federation, Punjab, here on Sunday on the hospital premises. According to a press release, Mr Harish Rai Dhanda, president District Bar Association, inaugurated the camp and Mr K S Brar, District Social Security Officer, presided over the function. While inaugurating the camp, Mr Dhanda said these camps were the need of the hour and he also praised the efforts of the NGOs working in this field. Dr Rajinder Singh (eye surgeon), Dr Charanjit Uppal, Dr Sunil Lakhotra( medicine), Dr Jaswinder Malhi and Dr Mittal (dental surgeons) and Dr Navinder Monga (psychiatrist) gave treatment to the patients and medicines free of cost were distributed. About 315 patients were given treatment at the camp.

AID TO WIDOWS: Widows were given free ration and pension by Lala Jagat Narayan Nishkam Sewa Sangh and Gyan Sthal Mandir on Sunday. Around 561 needy widows received the financial aid. Sheetal Vig donated Rs 1 lakh on the occasion. Marriages of three needy girls were also arranged. Newly-wedded couples were given clothes, utensils, ornaments, beds and sewing machines. Mr Santokh Singh, Social Welfare Minister promised to give Rs 50,000 from his discretionary fund.

TARN TARAN
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local mandal unit of the BJP; president — Mr Surinder Kumar Bittu; general secretary — Mr Daljit Singh Nagpal; senior vice-president — Mr Sulakhan Singh; and vice-presidents — Mr Ravinder Kumar Billu, Mr Baldev Singh, Mr Balwinder Singh, Mr Kuldeep Singh, and Mr Subash Chander.

CHANDIGARH

MEETING: The general body meeting of Residents Welfare Association, Sector 15 was held at Senior Citizen’s Centre here on Sunday, in order to discuss the issue of hike in cable rates. The meeting was presided over by Mr S.R. Mongia and representatives of other associations were also present. They decried the unwarranted hike in cable rates.

HARYANA

KARNAL
MASS MARRIAGES: Fifteen marriages were solemnised at a mass marriage camp organised by the Maha Nirvani Akhara at Sangmeshwar Mahadev Temple, near Pehowa, on Sunday. Mahant Gangapuri, general secretary of the akhara, said the akhara organised such camps twice a year and so far it had solemnised 472 marriages. Each couple was given gifts worth Rs 15,000.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

DHARAMSALA
STONE LAID: The Congress MLA from Nagrota-Bagwan, Mr G.S. Bali, on Saturday laid the foundation stone of a Rs 10 lakh Chamunda Temple flood protection and beautification project. Funds for the work have been provided by Ms Rena Chaudhary, Lok Sabha member.

NAHAN
MURDER: Kokia Ram, a resident of Penjeh village in Rajgarh tehsil, was allegedly murdered by a close relative on Saturday. Mr S.P.S Verma, SP, Sirmour, said the police had arrested Kaka Ram (19), a close relative of the deceased, in this regard.