R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
GRATITUDE: Bibi Jagir Kaur, president, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, on Tuesday thanked the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narinder Modi, for restoring the holiday on the Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev.

Dera Bassi
SEMINAR: A seminar on post graduation in information and technology (IT) in U.K., was organised by Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dera Bassi, here on Tuesday. Mr John Leaning, Associate Dean School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian Universities Scotland, who was the guest speaker said that there was a heavy demand of IT and computer professionals in various university all over the world.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
SCHEME FOR WIDOWS: National family benefit scheme of the Centre has been launched in the district by the Social Security and Child Welfare Department. Under this scheme widows will be given assistance of Rs. 10,000 for their day to day needs. Under this scheme if the bread winner of a family died before 2004 in accident or natural death, his widow between the age group of 18 and 64 years, having yellow card or below poverty line certificate, could apply for the assistance.

BAN ORDERS: Mr S.K. Ahluwalia, District Magistrate issued order under Section 144 Cr here today on the gathering of 5 or more than 5 persons near the examination centres of middle standard. Orders will remain in force upto March. 2.

Hoshiarpur
DEAD: Raj Kumar, son of Amar Chand of Handowal village, was died due to severe cold here on Monday. His body was found near a petrol station of the village. The post-mortem of the body was conducted at the local Civil Hospital. Later, the body handed over to his parents.

DEMANDED: Activists of the district unit of the BJP led by its president, Mr Ashwani Ballagan, here on Tuesday presented a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner for onward submission to the President of India. They demanded the restoration of the Parikar government and the sacking of the Governor of Goa, Mr S.C. Jamir, for his alleged undemocratic, unconstitutional and politically motivated dismissal of the Parikar government.

CAMP: The District Sainik Welfare Board in collaboration with Fortis Hospital organised an awareness camp at Punjab Mata Vidhyavati Bhavan here on Tuesday. The aim of the camp was to make ex-servicemen and their families aware about the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) by becoming its life members. Dr G.S. Kalra, and Dr Jaswant Rai, Director of Cardiology and Orthopaedics, respectively, of Fortis Hospital, Mohali, delivered lectures.

ANNUAL FUNCTION: Doaba Arya Senior Secondary School organised its annual day prize distribution function on the school premises here on Tuesday. Mr Davinder Nath Sharma, Registrar, Arya Vidhya Parishad, was the chief guest and gave away prizes, according to Sat Pal Ummat, officiating Principal of the school.

JAGRAON
LAHAN SEIZED: The police has arrested Pritam Singh of Bhaini Baringa and seized 40 kg of lahan from his possession. A case has registered under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act. In another incident, Sohan Singh of the same village was arrested and 60 kg of lahan seized from him. A case has been registered.

LUDHIANA
SEMINAR: The Sutlej Club will organise a seminar on human rights awareness tomorrow. Mr Sanjeev Dhanda, cultural secretary of the club, said in a press note Mr B.C. Rajput, member of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, would deliver a lecture.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Municipal Sanitary Inspectors Association: senior vice-president Mr Shamsher Singh; vice-presidents — Mr Jagjit Singh and Mr Brahmjit Singh; general secretary — Mr Surinder Kumar Dhiman; secretary —Mr Surinder Kumar Dogra and Mr Darshan Singh Toni; chief cashier —Mr Darshan Singh Toni.

CHANDIGARH

Relief fund: Students and staff of Sri Guru Ram Dass Public School, Sector 19, Chandigarh presented a cheque for Rs 3,100 as aid for the tsunami victims. The amount has been contributed to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

TALK: The Government College, Sector 46, Chandigarh, organised a talk on ‘General Insurance’ on Tuesday. Dr S.K. Takyar, senior branch manager, United India Insurance Company Limited, Chandigarh, spoke on the subject. Students of MCom and BCom classes listened to the speaker. Earlier, Dr Takyar was welcomed by Dr Uma Narang, lecturer in commerce, while Dr Prem Sagar of the Geography Department extended a vote of thanks. The college Principal, Dr A.N. Garg, presided over the function.

PROTEST BY BSNL STAFF: Some employees of BSNL today held protest outside the office of the Chief General Manager, Telecom, against the increase in foreign direct investment from 49 per cent to 74 per cent. The members of the Sanchar Nigam Executives Association and the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Employees Union, group C& D, took part in the protest.

Workshop: Regional workshop on ‘benchmarking of irrigation projects’ is being organized by the Central Water Commission (CWC) here from February 10. Mr VP Singh, Director of the Indus Basin Organisation, said in the workshop being coordinated by Mr S.C. Gupta, Chief Engineer, CWC, the workshop will to identify the best management practices, assessing and monitoring the irrigation efficiency, generating competition.

Paper-reading contest: An inter-college literary paper-reading contest was held at Govt. College for Girls, Sector 42, here today. It was organised by the English Literary Society of the college. A lecture on career counselling and personality development was also delivered. The function was presided over by the Principal, Ms Avinash Kaur. The winners of the contest were Simrita of Govt. College for Girls, Sector 11, The second prize went to Gauravdeep of GGDSD, Sector-32 and Jaspreet of MCM DAV College, Sector-36 got the third prize.

Debate: An inter-college debate contest on the topic “Multinational companies are damaging our health” will be held on Friday in the Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Sector 26, here. Prof. V.C. Nanda will preside over the programme.

LECTURE: A lecture on ‘causes and predictions of earthquakes and tsunami’ was organised by the Department of Physics at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26 on Tuesday. Dr S.S. Virk former Head of Physics Department, of Guru Nanak Dev University, spoke on different aspects of the earthquakes and tsunami. The Principal, Dr Kuldeep Singh, welcomed Dr Virk. A question-answers session was also held.

SPCA MEETING: A meeting of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), was held on Tuesday at Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36. It urged students to work for animal welfare. The SPCA will shortly organise meetings and workshops for principal and senior staff of educational institutes for seeking their cooperation in various animal welfare activities.

BLOOD DONATED: As many as 56 units of blood was donated at a camp that was organised by the AG Haryana Blood Donors Society at the office of Accountant General, Haryana, here today. The camp was organised in collaboration with Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.

Writing competition: A writing skills competition on the theme “Challenges before the Indian women” was held at Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26 on Wednesday. It was organised by the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi. Maj-Gen Himmat Singh (retd), chairman of the Akademi, said 15 students of the college were shortlisted to participate in the competition. The following are the winners in the order of merit — English - Prableen Kaur Prabla, Jasina Rani and Firoza Devi; Hindi - Navjot Sharma, Dolly and Mamta Devi; Punjabi — Sarabjeet Kaur, Silky Sharma and Rani. Winners were given cash prizes of Rs 800 , Rs 700 and Rs 500 , respectively.

TALK: Dr S.L. Goel, Professor Emeritus, fellow UGC, Vice-Chairman Indian Institute of Public Administration, Panjab University, delivered a talk on “Systems approach to public administration at Government College, Sector 46 on Wednesday.

DELEGATION: A delegation of the Chandigarh Industrial Association today met the Municipal Commissioner Mr P.S. Aujla, on Wednesday and demanded extension in time for submission of property tax. The last date was scheduled for Thursday.

HARYANA

Bhiwani
DONATION: Judicial functionaries and subordinate employees have sent Rs 55,390 towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the help of tsunami victims. The District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.C. Bansal, said here on Tuesday that judicial officers and employees working at the local district, Charkhi Dadri, Loharu and Siwani had collected the amount.

Fatehabad
SUICIDE BID: A youth was picked up in a case of theft and allegedly beaten up by the police here on Monday. The youth was identified Raju Jangra, a resident of Harnam Singh Colony. His relative brought him back to his residence in the evening. However, he tried to commit suicide by hanging himself in the night. His wife raised the alarm and his family members saved him.

Sonepat
BODIES FOUND: The body of a youth was found near veterinary hospital at Mahlana road here on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Sandeep, son of Om Parkash of Bari Haveli. According to the father of the deceased, he had gone to attend a marriage in the local Vinayak Garden on Monday night but he did not return. His body was sent for a post-mortem examination. A case has been registered. Meanwhile, the police has found the body of Sudeep Singh Gautam, alias Chhota, of Bari Haveli, near a veterinary hospital in Sector 23 here. The deceased was the brother of Mr Pradeep Gautam, a local Congress leader.

THEFT: A sum of Rs 24,000 and precious stones worth Rs 20,000 were reportedly stolen from Bhure Lal Temple here on Monday. The temple is located near Hindu College. On the complaint of a trustee of the temple, a case has been registered.

OVERTURNED: Atleast three shops were damaged when a truck loaded with sugarcane overturned on the Bega-Ganaur road near GT Road, 20 km from here, on Wednesday.

Yamunanagar
PROGRAMME: A week-long management development programme on ‘Export Management’ began at the M.M. Group of Institutions at MM educational complex, Mullana, on Tuesday. The programme is being organised jointly by the Small Industries Services Institute, Karnal, and the M.M. Institute of Management. Mr Tarsem Kumar, chairman, MMIM, inaugurated the programme. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
PROTEST: Former minister Rikhiram Kondal and the BJP state spokesman, Randhir Sharma, along with their supporters gathered here on Tuesday and observed “protest day” against the action of the Governor of Goa. They marched through bazaars and raised slogans against the Governor for his action against the Parikar government. Leaders, including BJP Mandal presidents, Capt. Jindu Ram, Capt. Narender Thakur, Daulat Ram Thakur, district general secretary, Swatantara Sankhayayan and others presented a memorandum to the Assistant Commissioner for its forwarding to the President of India.

SANCTIONED: The Himachal Pradesh Government has sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the extension of building of the local Government Postgraduate College and Rs 1.50 crore had already been sanctioned for the purpose. The Chief Minister will lay the foundation stone of the new complex on February 26. This was stated by Tilakraj Sharma, MLA, here on Tuesday after inaugurating girls common room building in the college complex.

Dharamsala
ROAD BLOCKED: Shopkeepers in the Gaggal area on Tuesday blocked the Pathankot-Mandi national highway for nearly two hours in protest against the inaction of the police in nabbing those behind a spate of thefts in the area.

Mandi
DISTRIBUTED: The Himachal Pradesh Cooperative Bank has distributed over 261 Kisan Credit Cards to farmers and linked over 862 self-help groups (SHG) to the bank in the district. The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.S. Gupta, said here on Tuesday that the bank had launched the Him Swarojgar Credit Card scheme for small and marginal entrepreneurs in the state.

CONFERENCE: The state conference of the CPI will be held at Bilaspur on March 5 and 6. This was stated by Des Raj, assistant secretary of the state council, here on Tuesday. He said at the conference delegates would be elected to the new party’s council. He said state party executive members would meet on February 14 and assess the political situation in the state.

Solan
WORKSHOP: With a view to bringing about change in the attitude of the policemen, a two-day workshop on personality development concluded at the Police Lines here on Tuesday. The workshop was conducted by the Central Board for Workers education. Speaking on the occasion, the Superintendent of Police, Mr Gianeshwar Singh, said the good attitude of the police could create better relationship between people and the police. Officials of the board, Mr S.A. Nazi and Mr H.S. Mishra stressed upon the team work and development of better human relations.