R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
DEMAND: The Chandigarh-Punjab Union of Journalists led by Mr Jasbir Singh Patti has demanded stern action against those who allegedly attacked and beat up a journalist, K.L. Kamlesh, and his two sons — Jagdish and Suraj. He sought a case against the accused.

Jalandhar
TWO POs HELD: The district police arrested two proclaimed offenders (POs) accused in a case of liquor smuggling from a hideout here on Monday. They were identified as Manjit Singh of Godra village and Ashok Kumar of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar. Both were booked for smuggling liquor five years ago.

SPURIOUS CEMENT: The district police has arrested five persons for their alleged involvement in storing and selling spurious cement to gullible customers. According to the police, following a tip-off, a police party raided a store near the octroi post at Reru village on the Jalandhar-Pathankot road here and found 80 bags of cement along with 68 bags of mixed cement. The police also recovered empty bags.

MEDICAL CAMP: A free physiotherapy and medical check-up camp was organised by Lovely Physiotherapy Clinic at Khojewal village on Monday. As many as 100 patients were examined and treated by professionally trained therapists and students. Several old patients with back and knee problems and young patients with post-fracture stiffness underwent a medical check-up.

Nawanshahr
CARDIOLOGY CENTRE : The Guru Nanak Mission Medical and Educational Trust, Dhahan Kaleran, an NRI-sponsored NGO, is all set for an ultra-modern trauma centre and a cardiology centre at a cost of Rs 15 crore. The construction would begin on November 25 by Bhai Mohinder Singh of Guru Nanak Nishkam Seva Jatha, Birmingham, UK.

ROPAR
DHARNA ON DEC 8: Teachers and employees of the government-aided schools in the state will stage a dharna in front of the office of the DPI (Schools) Punjab, in Chandigarh on December 8 against the government decision to discontinue the pension scheme for them. A member of the State-Aided Schools Teachers and Employees Federation, Mr Hardeep Singh, said the members of the federation have decided to observe a statewide protest to show their resentment against the government decision. 

HARYANA

Ambala
Demand: The Ambala Cantonment Traders Federation on Tuesday demanded that the submission date of VAT forms should be extended. The federation observed that the VAT R2 form has been finalised by the department last month so the date should be extended since it was the first year for submission. It stated that every dealer has to complete the account books according to the requirement to fill the VAT R2 and R3 forms, a press note said. 

PROTEST: Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists on Tuesday burnt an effigy of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to protest against the arrest of Shankaracharya Gyanendra Saraswati. The effigy was burnt at Triveni chowk in Shahzadpur. BJYM state vice-president Satish Mehta condemned the arrest of Shankaracharya and demanded that the President must intervene in the matter. 

HONOURED: Dr Paul Kaur, Shiromani Kavi award winner, was honoured by the Punjabi Sahit Sabha of SD College, Ambala Cantonment on Tuesday. The officiating Principal, Prof R.K. Dawer, presented a shawl and a set to the poetess. Dr Paul Kaur has been awarded thrice by the Haryana Punjabi Sahit Academy. Prof Gurdev Singh of Government College presented a critique regarding Dr Paul Kaur’s poetry. Dr Paul Kaur said poetry must contain poetic sensibility. She said there must be correlation between poet’s personality and its creation. She recited her poems starting with ‘Khabbal’ to her latest poem ‘Khed’.

DEBATE: Army School, Ambala Cantonment was first runners up at an Inter-Formation (Western Command) English debate competition held at APS Noida on Manday. School principal said the team comprising Akshay Tewari, Aniket Singh and Gazal Wadhwa won the first runners up trophy and a cash prize of Rs 1000 each. Akshay was adjudged the best interjector and Aniket the best speaker (against the motion). The topic of the debate was ‘Commercialisation of education : a necessity.’ 

Bhiwani
HELD FOR GRAFT: The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau caught a government official of Bawani Khera red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from Mr Virender Arya of Badsi in lieu of giving him a loan cheque. A case under Sections 7, 13 and 49 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, has been registered against him.

Kaithal
EXTORTION: On the complaint of a local businessman, the police has registered a case of extortion. According to information, Shiv Kumar of S. Kumar Saree Store here received a letter in the name of Sunder Geong, a jailed criminal, demanding Rs 2 lakh for his men. The SP, Mr Ranbir Sharma, said the matter was under investigation.

OLD STUDENTS’ MEET: A function of the old students’ association of RKSD College here will be held on December 5 in the college premises. Meritorious former students will be honoured. A cultural programme will be organised and a lucky draw held on the occasion.

Sonepat
YOUTH ROBBED: A youth, Rameshwar, of Bichpari village was robbed of cash, a gold ring and his motorcycle by three unidentified armed youths on the Gohana-Safidon road near Khandrai village, 50 km from here, on Monday night. A case has been registered.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Sundernagar
BAR ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Sundernagar Bar Association: Mr P.S. Sen — president; Vikrant Thakur — vice-president; Amin Chand — secretary; Prem Thakur — cashier; Rajesh Parasher — librarian; and Suchitra Thakur — joint secretary.