R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BATHINDA
GIRL TOPS: Anju Bansal of the city has secured the first position in the zone comprising Bathinda, Mansa and Faridkot districts in the M.Sc (Information Technology) second semester examination conducted by Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar. She has secured 392 out of 500 marks.

OCTROI CONTRACT: Mr T.R. Sharma, Deputy Director, Local Bodies, said on Sunday that the contract for the collection of octroi in Muktsar city had been awarded at Rs 2.55 crore. In a press note issued here, Mr Sharma said the auction for awarding the contract was held in his office here on January 31. He said the contract was for one year.

ARTIFICIAL LIMBS: The Helping Hand Educational Society distributed two tricycles, seven artificial limbs and five callipers to the physically challenged at a function held here on Sunday.

DALIT SENA’S PLEA: The Dalit Sena has urged the authorities of the NFL plant here to give work to about 200 labourers dismissed recently. Mr Kiranjit Singh Gehri, state president of the sena, said in a press note issued here on Sunday that they would launch an agitation if their demand was not accepted.

POETRY BOOK: A book of English poems was released here on Sunday. An exhibition of paintings based on the poems in the book was also inaugurated. The book, “The Other Passion” is penned by Dr J.S. Anand, a lecturer at the local DAV College, while his daughter Kiran Preet Anand has painted the ideas of the poems on canvas. The book was released by Mr Wazir Chand Mangla, chairman of the advisory committee of the college.

GURDASPUR
ARRESTED: The police has arrested Ramesh Kumar of Amritsar for allegedly selling smack and cocaine to college students. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said the police had seized smack and cocaine from the suspect, who was selling these opposite A.B. College, Pathankot, on January 30. A case under Sections 21,22,61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered.

THIEVES HELD: The police has arrested Kunto, Shanti and Soma, all residents of Paniar in the district for allegedly stealing readymade garments and sarees from shops. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said on Sunday that the suspects used to enter shops as customers and then committed thefts.

KHANNA
POSTPONED: The seminar on contract farming scheduled for February 4 has been postponed for February 5, according to a press note issued by the Public Relations Department.

LUDHIANA
INSTALLATION: The city Jaycees held their second installation ceremony here. Mr Mahesh Kumar Arora was installed as president. Ten new members were also inducted. Mr Sukhpal, zonal president, Indian Jaycees, was the chief guest at the function. Mr Vineet Ahuja, zonal vice-president, was the installing officer.

PROTEST RALLY: Employees of the PSEB held a protest rally in front of 22 kv sub-station, Sidhwan Bet, on Monday. Criticising the recommendations of the government to divide the board, they alleged that the government was paving way for the privatisation of the board. The leaders gave a call for a complete strike on February 4.

BODY FOUND: An unidentified man, aged about 30 years, was crushed to death under a train near Badowal railway station. The police handed over the body to Civil Hospital, Jagraon, for a post-mortem examination.

POLIO CAMPAIGN: The Health Department on Monday claimed to have prepared itself for the second phase of polio eradication campaign scheduled to be organised on February 9. According to a press note, more than, 1953 posts have been set-up in the district out of which 100 will be mobile vans, which would visit the slum areas to administer polio drops to children below five years of age. More than 4.5 lakh children will be given polio drops on February 9.

FAREWELL PARTY: Students of class IX of Kundan Vidya Mandir hosted a farewell party on Saturday to bid adieu to their outgoing seniors. The School Principal, Mrs Neena Khanna, showered her blessings upon the students after a havan was performed. Lucky draws were taken out, students were awarded for their performance and titles were conferred on them.

MANSA
POPPY SEIZED: The district police seized 618.4 kg of poppy husk from 23 smugglers and registered 19 cases under the NDPS Act during January. This was disclosed by Mr Sudhansu Shekhar Srivastava, SSP, while talking to mediapersons here on Sunday. The SSP said 17 persons were arrested under the Gambling Act. The police also recovered an Indica car and some motor cycles. Seven persons were arrested for their involvement in a dacoity.

NAWANSHAHR
SAD MEETING: The district unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal organised a meeting at Gurdwara Singh Sabha here on Monday to motivate workers for the party’s statewide ‘‘rasta roko’’ programme on February 10. Mr Nand Lal, MLA, Balachaur, presided over the meeting. Mr Jatinder Singh Kariha, Mr Mohan Lal, both former MLAs, Mr Mohinder Singh Hussainpur, SGPC member, Mr Harprabh Mahil Singh, general secretary, All-India Youth Akali Dal, among others addressed the meeting.

ANNUAL FUNCTION: The local Parkash Model School organised its annual function, ‘‘Albida’’, here on Monday. Ms V. Neeraja, SSP, was the chief guest and Dr Dev Ichha Shekhar, Principal of the Dayanand Amarnath College of Education for Women, presided over the function and gave away prizes to meritorious students. A cultural programme was presented by students.

CHEQUES GIVEN: Ms Santosh Chaudhary, MP, gave cheques for Rs 7,000 each to 55 elementary schools in the Mukandpur education block in the district under the Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan at a function organised at Government Senior Secondary School, Mukandpur, about 20 km from here, on Saturday. Mr K.C. Kapoor, District Education Officer, presided over the function, said Mr Balbir Singh Khanpuri, in charge, district Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan, in a press note here on Monday.

PATIALA
MEMORIAL Award: Sun Flower Model High School has instituted ‘Kalpna Chawla Memorial Award’ which will be given to the student securing highest marks in class 10th. The award will comprise Rs 1,100 and a certificate. The students of the school observed a two-minute silence in the memory of the astronaut.

PHAGWARA
COLUMBIA CRASH: Mr Joginder Bassi, producer of the Canada-based radio and TV channel, Gaonda Punjab, on Monday mourned the death of seven astronauts in the Columbia space shuttle crash. He said it was a colossal loss to the world.

TARN TARAN
3 HELD: The police has arrested three persons indulging in anti-social activities. It seized 2 gm of smack from Surinder Singh of Thathi village and has registered a case under the NDPS Act. The police seized a spear from Mukhtar Singh and has registered a case under the Arms Act. It also seized 4.5 kg of poppy husk from Kabul Singh of Dhotian village and has registered a case under the NDPS Act. The suspects have been arrested.

HARYANA

AMBALA
HARYANA AKALI DAL: Senior Akali leader Capt Kanwaljit Singh on Monday said steps would be taken to strengthen the Haryana Akali Dal. The general secretary of the party Mr Rancor Singh Fuji, said a meeting of the state executive had been summoned at Kurukshetra on February 22 in which the SYL canal and other issues would be taken up.

SCOOTERIST KILLED: A scooterist was killed in a road accident on the GT Road, near Ambala city, on Sunday. The deceased identified as Gurcharan Singh was an employee in Bharat Petroleum at Ambala Cantt. He was a resident of Shivpuri in Ambala city. Gurcharan Singh was going home from work after purchasing medicines for his wife when his scooter collided with a Canter near Geeta Nagari. He died on the spot. His body was brought to the local Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

HISAR
STIR CALLED OFF: Students of the local veterinary college of Haryana Agricultural University have called off their four-day-old strike following an assurance given by Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, MLA, regarding their demand in connection with the fixing of minimum qualification for admission to the veterinary course.

PO HELD: A missing accused, also declared a proclaimed offender by court for jumping parole, has been arrested, the police said on Monday. The accused, Rajender, hailing from Bhuna (Fatehabad), was serving a jail term under the NDPS Act in Central Jail here.