R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
CLAIMED: The All-India Christian Dalit Front on Monday demanded that Mr Anwar Masih be made the SAD-BJP candidate of the Ajnala constituency byelection. Mr Munaavar Masih, president of the front, claimed that their community was in majority in the area, with about 35,000 votes.

Hoshiarpur
ARRESTED: The Garhshanker police has arrested Gurdial Singh, his wife Satnam Kaur and son Daljit Singh under Sections 498-A, 34 of the IPC on the complaint of Ms Baljinder Kaur, who had alleged that the accused tortured her for not bringing dowry.

MEDICAL CAMP: The district police along with the district Health Department organised a health education-cum-medical camp at the Police Lines here on Tuesday. SSP Lok Nath Angra inaugurated the camp. Families of police personnel and NCC cadets from various schools participated.

MURDERED: Harminder Singh, Lecturer of DAV College, Dasuya, was allegedly murdered by unidentified assailants on Monday. According to police sources, the assailants attacked the lecturer with sharp-edged weapon while he was on his way to home. He succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital. A case has been registered.

Jalandhar
PROTEST: Members of various traders' organisations held a protest march and dharna in front of local Company Bagh here on Monday against the proposal of the Punjab Government to privatise octroi in the state. The traders threatened to go on strike in case the government went ahead with its proposal.

Ludhiana
MEDICAL CAMP: A free medical camp, with special focus on infertility and other gynaecological problems, was organised by Dr Rama Sofat Hospital at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) unit hospital, Baddowal. A team of doctors examined more than 100 women, who were also provided consultation on infertility, maternity and common gynaecological disorders. Dr Amit Sofat and Dr Ruchika Sofat delivered a talk on infertility management on this occasion.

Pathankot
TALENT SEARCH: Mariam Sobash, Abhinav Bhatia, Harsha Kosta and Shrey Kuthiala, all students of J.M.K. International School here, stood merit in the National Talent Search Examination held recently by the MBD (Holy Faith).

Phagwara
DECIDED: A meeting of the General Samaj Manch, with Mr Fateh Singh in the Chair, on Monday decided to file a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court against the misuse of the SC and ST (Prevenion of Atrocities) Act against general categories, according to Mr Girish Sharma, general secretary of the manch.

TSUNAMI AID: Mr Raj Mohan Singh Anand, Director (Operation), JCT Limited, and Mr J.C. Sodhi, General Manager (L&R), on Monday presented a draft for Rs 1,25,000 to SDM Pritam Singh towards tsunami relief fund on behalf of the management and the staff of the mill. Mr Charan Singh Jaswal on behalf of the Petrol Pump Dealers Association donated Rs 22,700 towards the fund.

Ropar
INJURED: Twelve persons were injured when a private bus in which they were travelling overturned near Nurpurbedi town here on Monday. The bus was on its way to Jalandhar. The injured were admitted to hospital.

Samrala
DONATED: A draft for Rs 11,000 was handed over on Tuesday to the SDM, Mr Baldev Singh, and the Naib Tehsildar, Mr P.S. Kular, by a former Sarpanch and a former Block Samiti member, Mr Darshan Singh, of Burma village, 9 km from here, for the tsunami victims. Earlier a sum of Rs 10,000 was donated towards the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. The money was collected from residents of Dhindsa village, 5 km from here. Mr Kapoor Singh of Ladhran village also donated Rs 2,000.

Sangrur
ELECTED: Mr Surinder Kumar Jain of Sangrur and Mr Naresh Jindal of Sunam have been elected president and general secretary, respectively, of the District Chemists and Druggists Association. Stating this, Mr Surjit Mehta, president of the Punjab Chemists Association, said Mr Jain would soon nominate other office-bearers.

Tarn Taran
GHERAOED: A piquant situation arise in front of Verowal police station here on Monday when two groups gathered there shouting slogans, one against alleged police atrocities on poor people occupying Wakf Board land and another in favour of the police action. The gherao was lifted when SP Paramdeep Singh Teja assured them of a solution.

HARYANA

Sonepat
BEATEN UP: A motor cycle borne youth was beaten up with slippers by a girl student in Sector 14, HUDA colony, here on Tuesday. According to a report, the girl was going for tuition when the accused allegedly harassed her by passing obscene remarks. She caught hold of him and gave him a severe beating. He was let off only after be apologised.

BODY FOUND: The police found the body of Narinder of Deepalpur village from the field at Kabirpur village, 3 km from here, on Tuesday. According to a report the youth had allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Sundernagar
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Steel and Wooden Furniture Association, Mandi: president—Mr Devi Ram; vice-president—Mr Ramesh Chand; general secretary—Mr Inder Singh Rana; treasurer—Mr Ram Lal; and adviser—Mr Harvinder Singh.

Kangra
DISCONNECTED: At least 1,500 telephone connections were disconnected by the BSNL authorities in the Kangra, Shahpur, Yol and Dharamsala areas for non-payment of telephone bills. Mr S.S. Rana, Senior Accounts Officer, said on Monday that out standing payments stood at Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 crore.

Kulu
CONDEMNED: The Hoteliers and Travel Agents Association here condemned a telecast by ZEE News channel on the Kulu valley recently referring it as the "valley of death". Mr Jagannath Sharma, president of association, said the telecast was misleading and the expressions used in the programme should have been avoided.