R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
COMPENSATION SOUGHT: Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, a former BJP MLA, has demanded compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for three persons who died due to rabies as it was a case of negligence on the part of the corporation. She said the corporation woke up only after people died due to dog bites.

ORGANISED: As many as 30 Principals participated in the Principals’ workshop organised to discuss problems of students, solutions and implementation of various programmes here on Thursday. The workshop was organised jointly by the Swami Vivekanand a Study Circle and DAV International School to commemorate the ‘Chicago address anniversary’ of Swami Vivekanand.

ANIMAL FAIR: The annual animal fair, will start at Pashu mela ground, Vallah, from October 21. Deputy Commissioner Raminder Singh said all arrangements had been completed for the success of the mela.

LOK ADALAT: A state-level Lok Adalat to be presided over by Mr Justice H.S. Bedi, of the Punjab & Haryana High Court will be held here on Saturday at 10 a.m. Mr Justice Jasbir Singh, Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court, will be the guest of honour.

HONOURED: The North American Sikh Medical and Dental Association has awarded Baba Budh Singh Dhahan, Chairman, Guru Nanak Mission Medical and Education Trust, Dhahan Kaleran (Nawanshahr) for providing medical and education facilities on par with international standards.

SHOP GUTTED: A provision store shop was gutted in the Maan Nagar locality on Friday. Though the reason behind the fire could not be known, the owner of the shop, Manjit Singh, said the fire was a result of a damaged meter and short-circuit. Some fire-crackers were allegedly stored in the shop. Fire brigade officials extinguished the fire.

LUDHIANA
CONTEST: A declamation contest was held at GGN Khalsa College, Civil Lines, in Hindi, Punjabi and English. A large number of students participated in the contest and spoke on a variety of topics. Dr G.S. Ahluwalia, co-ordinator cultural activities, advised the students to develop the knack for such activities. Prof Raghbir Singh, Prof Hargunjot Kaur and Prof Tarsem Singh judged the contest. Those present on the occasion were Prof Harpal Singh, Dr Amrit Rishma, Prof Sharanjit Kaur, Prof Rajinder Kaur and Prof Manjit Singh Batalwi. Prof L.S. Bedi, co-coordinator, proposed a vote of thanks.

NAWANSHAHR
MERIT LIST: While students of Guru Nanak College of Nursing, Dhahan Kaleran (Nawanshahr) — Manpreet Kaur Sahota, Ritu Sharma, Veenu Singh and Sandip Kaur Sandhu topped the merit list, Amandip Kaur bagged the third position in the university merit lists of different semesters examinations conducted by the Baba Farid University Health Science, Faridkot. Besides, as many as 25 students of the college had got distinctions in various examinations, informed Dr Saroj Sharma, Principal.

SAMBHAR BURIED: A sambhar that had strayed into the town on Thursday died while saving itself from dogs, has been buried near Canal Rest House near Rahon. Earlier, veterinarians conducted a post-mortem examination. The sambhar had sustained injuries while saving itself from the dogs, and had died of shock.

HARYANA

AMBALA
WORKSHOP: A state- level workshop on the status of women in the contemporary world was organised in MDSD Girls College, Ambala City, on Friday. The workshop was organised by the Women Cell of the college. Mr Dhanpat Singh, Commissioner, Higher Education was, the chief guest. An exhibition on issues related to women was inaugurated by Mr Dhanpat Singh. The Principal of the college, Dr Kiran Angra, explained the working of the Women Cell under the guidance of Ms Rekha Garg. Prof Pam Rajput presided over the workshop that began with the keynote address of Ms Richa Tanwar. Other resources persons included Dr Meena Dutta, Ms Rajni Lamba, Ms Ujvall Sharma, Dr Paul Kaur and Dr Jeewanti Joshi. 

SPORTS DAY: Sacred Heart Convent, Ambala Cantonment celebrated its third annual sports day on Friday. District Education Officer, Mr Panwar, was the chief guest. Speakers said education was not complete without sports. The day witnessed a number of events including drills, races, karate and a skating demonstration.

CONVOCATION: The annual convocation ceremony was held at Gandhi Memorial National College, Ambala Cantoment, on Friday. As many as 450 degrees were awarded to under and post graduate students by the Commissioner, Higher Education, Mr Dhanpat Singh.

FATEHABAD
DRIVE: Tightening its grip over boat-leggers and gamblers the police on Thursday nabbed 17 persons and registered 13, cases under the Excise Act and the Gambling Act. According to a press release issued by the district police chief, Mr Des Raj Singh, the police had registered six cases under the Excise Act and recovered a working still, 140 kg of lahan, 60 bottles of illicit liquor and 10 bottles of country-made liquor and arrested six persons in this connection. The police also registered seven cases under the Gambling Act.

LAUNCHED: The ‘Rashtriya Viklagta Sahayata Nigam’ has started a new scheme to provide financial help on easy terms to the physically challenged people to start their business ventures. This was revealed on Thursday by Mr Mohiner Singh Jhajra, district manager of the Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation. He said caste was no bar under the scheme and any physically challenged person between the 18-55 age group was eligible for benefits under the scheme.

KAITHAL
PROHIBITORY ORDERS: The District Magistrate, Mr Anurag Agarwal, has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC and banned the sale and use of explosives and crackers at congested places of Kaithal, Kalayat, Cheeka and Pundri towns of the district between 6 and 10 pm.

BOOKED: The police has booked a Pehowa resident on the charge of cheating Chander Bhan of Rs 4 lakh on the pretext of sending him abroad. According to a complaint lodged by Chander Bhan, a resident of Arjan Nagar here, Gurnam Singh of Pehowa prepared some forged documents and took Rs 4 lakh for sending him abroad. The complaint alleged that the accused neither sent him abroad nor returned the money. A case has been registered.

KALKA
DECISION: The Public Health Department has decided to return electric motors, impounded during this summer. Many residents in the town had illegally installed these motors to boost drinking water supply. Following raids and surprise checks, a large number of motors were impounded. A spokesman of the department said a fine of Rs 1,200 would be charged from defaulters.

Kurukshetra
WORLD FOOD DAY: The Department of Home Science of Kurukshetra University celebrated World Food Day at Narkatari village on Thursday. This was stated by the Chairperson of the department, Dr G.K. Kochar. She said Mrs Vinti Davar, Mrs Tarvinderjee Kaur, Mr Davender and Ms Mamta Kaushik, took active part-in the programme. Post-graduate students also went to the village and distributed nutritious eatables to children and women.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of Himachal Pradesh Health and Family Welfare Ministerial Staff Association: president — Mr Ashwani Kumar Rathore; senior vice president — Ms Hem Lata Sehgal, vice president — Mr Ramesh Sharma; general secretary — Mr Daljit Sharma; joint secretary — Mr Ravinder Sharma; and finance secretary — Mr Chaman Singh.

UNION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the state unit of the Himachal Pradesh Anganwari Employees Union: president — Ms Shanti Chauhan; working president — Ms Asha Lata Sood; senior vice president — Ms Anita Kumari, vice presidents — Ms Malo Devi, Ms Gaya Devi, Ms Sudesh Kumari Rana; general secretary — Mr Ramesh Rana and finance secretary — Ms Leela Devi.

NAHAN
SUICIDE BID: On the complaint of SP Central Jail, Nahan, the Police on Thursday registered a case under Section 309 of the IPC for attempt to suicide, against Joginder Singh an undertrial. According to jail sources, Joginder Singh tried to kill himself by trying to cut his neck with a weapon.

RELEASED: Presiding over a meeting of the governing body of the District Rural Development Agency, Sirmaur, chairman Zila Parishad, Mr Rajinder Thakur, said Rs 54 lakh had been released as first instalment, for the water shed project in five panchayats of the Shilai Block and three panchayats of the Paonta Sahib Block.

BAN ORDER: The District Magistrate, Mr M.L. Sharma, on Thursday asked traders to obtain valid licences from the competent authority to sell crackers in the district. He said that no person would be allowed to sell these items without permission.