R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
PROTEST: The Government School Teachers Association will hold a protest outside the residence of the state Chief Minister on January 19 against the decision of the Punjab Government to withdraw the benefits given to highly qualified teachers. This was stated by Mr Satyapal Gupta, member of the committee, here on Friday.

DONATED: The Amritsar Games Association Heritage Club has donated Rs 2.50 lakh for tsunami victims. Mr Gurwaryam Singh, SDM and honorary secretary of the club, handed over the cheque to the Deputy Commissioner here on Friday.

COMPUTERISATION: The Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Ms Rupan Deol Bajaj, said here on Friday that the record of the state Revenue Department would be computerised within the next three years.

TRAFFIC WEEK: The local traffic police organised a meeting of tempo union and auto unions on the occasion of a traffic week here on Thursday. Officials delivered lecturers on safe driving and informed union members about traffic rules.

POSTAL STAMPS: The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has assured the president of the SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur, that the Central Government would issue commemorative postal stamps to mark the three centenaries relating to the Sikh Gurus, according to a press note on Friday.

Batala
SEIZED: The police has raided the house of Rakesh Kumar, son of Mr Krishan Lal Khatri, a resident of Takki Mohalla, and seized intoxicants. This was stated by the chief of the Batala district police here on Friday.

Hoshiarpur
PROBE DEMANDED: A deputation of the Malta Boat Tragedy Probe Mission led by its chairman, Mr Balwant Singh Khera, met the Chief Secretary, Punjab, Mr Jai Singh Gill, and presented him a memorandum here on Thursday. The deputation demanded an inquiry into the boat tragedy, financial assistance to victims' families and list of deceased.

ALLEGED: A delegation of sarpanches and panches of various villages adjacent to Randhawa Sugar Mill and Distillery met the Deputy Commissioner here on Friday and presented him a memorandum. The delegation was led by Mr Gurmesh Singh, district secretary of the CPM, who alleged that polluted water from the mill and distillery were creating lot of problems for residents.

Ludhiana
STUDENT’S GESTURE: Schoolchildren of ‘Gupta Model High School, Club Road, Ludhiana collected goods of daily use for tsunami victims. School Manager, Vineet Gupta handed over the articles at Red Cross Bhavan here today.

YAJNA: A yajna was held in Lajpat Rai DAV College, Jagraon to pray for victims of tsunami here on Saturday. Mr Bimal Garg, Chairman, Mr Raj Kumar Bhalla and Mr Telu Ram and other members of management committee also attended in the ceremony.

Mandi Gobindgarh
Donated: The doctors, teachers and employees of Desh Bhagat Ayurvedic College and Hospital here have donated one day’s salary to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the tsunami victims. Addressing a meeting on this occasion, the principal, Mr R.C. Jain and vice-principal, Dr Lavleen Kaur Ahuja, expressed their grief for the loss of lives and property. They made an appeal to the people for donations. 

Nawanshahr
CONTRIBUTED: The local Swarnar Trust has contributed 25,000 toward the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for tsunami victims. A team of the trust handed over a bank draft to the Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Parkash Singh, here on Friday.

CAMP: The local branch of the State Bank of India organised a free eye check-up camp on the premises of the Truck Operators Union here on Friday.

DEMANDED: The Gazetted and Non-gazetted SC/BC Employees Federation and the Minister Staff Association (Education Department) have criticised the state government for depriving schoolteachers of their salaries for the past two months. The unions have demanded immediate release of salaries.

PATIALA
PROGRAMME: An NGO, Progressive Youth Forum, organised a road safety programme in Bhutgarh village of this district in collaboration with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Mr Major Singh Sekhon. The theme of this campaign was “No accident and save human lives”.

SEMINAR: A health seminar was organised at the Languages Department under the directions of the Dedicated Brothers Group. Patiala Range DIG I.P.S. Sahota was the chief guest on the occasion. Former Civl Surgeon, Dr Vijay Sharma, said steps should be taken to spread various winter diseases from spreading. Dr Amandeep Singh, orthopaedician, and Mr Param Pratap Singh, president, Golden Youth Club, were also honoured on the occasion. 

DISTRIBUTED: Dhudial Khalsa Senior Secondary School distributed help kits to students here on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rajwant Singh Sidhu, Senior Manager, State Bank of Patiala, Dharampura branch, said boots, dresses and blankets were distributed on the occasion. Mr Harpal Singh, member, organising committee of school and Mr Harjit Singh Sahni, Manager, SBOP, school branch, were also present on the occasion.

CELEBRATED: Modern School celebrated 57th founders day on Saturday. Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Swarn Singh Boparai, who was the chief guest, stressed upon the need for promoting Punjabi culture. The function began with the welcome address by executive director Reena Sophat following which Mr Boparai unfurled the school flag. The three bands of the school, the brass band, the bagpipe band and the flute band joined the four contingents drawn from the four houses of the school for the march past. The Principal, Ms Pratibha Sharma, presented the annual school report and highlighted the achievements of the students in different fields. This was followed by the prize distribution.

Sangrur
TRAFFIC WEEK: The district administration organised a function in connection with a road safety week, in collaboration with the local Lions Club at Khalsa Girls School here on Friday. 

HARYANA

AMBALA
LOAN MELA: Canara Bank, Ambala Cantonment branch, organised a retail lending camp to mark personal loan month on Saturday. The camp was inaugurated by Mr B.R. Maini, secretary, Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar, in presence of senior bank manager R.S. Negi and manager Parveen. The camp was organised to highlight various personal loans and retail lending schemes of the bank.

Karnal
BODY FOUND: The dead body of a newborn was recovered from the Western Yamuna Canal here on Thursday. A case has been registered.

Rewari
PROCESSION: Members of the Jain Samaj took out a procession here on Thursday. The procession started from Jain Temple in Jainpuri Mohalla and culminated at Moti Chowk. They staged a dharna at the chowk in protest against the installation of a statue of Guru Dattatrey by his followers at Girnar Mountain in Junagarh district of Gujarat, which was a pilgrimage centre for Jains. Mr Satender Kumar Jain, secretary, demanded the removal of the statue. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this connection.

Sonepat
DEAD: A prisoner, Shafi, alias Jangu (75), died on the way to the local Civil Hospital here on Friday. It is stated that the prisoner was suffering from tuberclulosis. The District Magistrate has ordered an inquiry into the case.

ARRESTED: The Mohara police on Saturday arrested a youth, Kapoor Singh, following the recovery of a country-made pistol from his possession. According to a report, the arrested youth belonged to Krewri village and had threatened another youth, Azad Singh, of the same village by showing the pistol to him. The police has registered a case under the Indian Arms Act.

SUSPENDED: The Superintendent of Post Offices on Saturday ordered the suspension of two employees, Davinder Kumar and Rajinder, in connection with the alleged duping of people by Manohar Kumar, a former postal agent of the Head Post Office. A departmental inquiry showed that Manohar Kumar, it is alleged, had duped hundreds of people and fled away with his family members about two months ago.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Kulu
EXHIBITION MATCH: The Administration Eleven crushed the Press Club Eleven by 63 in an exhibition match organised by the District Cricket Association (DCA) on Saturday. The DCA will organise the district tournament from Sunday in which 89 teams will participate. The Administration team, captained by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.D. Nazim, made 136 runs in the 20 overs match. Mr Vineet Kumar, Conservator of Forests, who was adjudged the Man of the Match, scored 57 runs.

Mandi
ALLEGED: Mr Mohan Lal Thakur, president, Gramin Mandal, has alleged that development of the local Sadar area has come to a standstill. He said the construction of a bridge and expansion of Zonal Hospital had been stalled by the state government. Mr Thakur claimed that former Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, had sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the construction of a building of the hospital and Rs 10 crore for the bridge across the Saketi khud.

Sundernagar
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Beas Sutlej Link Workers Union: president—Mr Dhani Ram; senior vice-presidents—Mr Sukh Ram, Mr Milkhi Ram and Mr Bhup Singh; general secretaries—Mr Baldev Raj Verdhan and Mr Gurdev Singh; legal adviser—Mr Sita Ram Saini; and political adviser—Mr Ramesh Chander.