R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
VIRASAT MELA: A cultural programme, Virasat Mela - 2005, was organised by “Tohar Punjabian Di” Youth Club, Amloh, at the Grain Market here yesterday. The function was inaugurated by Mr Sukhwinder Singh Bhambari, former chairman, Municipal Counsel Mandi Gobindgarh. Captain Kanwaljit Singh, former Finance Minister was the chief guest. The chief guest advised the youth club to go to the villages to create awareness against the drug addiction.

Gurdaspur
Two arrested: The district police has arrested Balwant Singh, resident of Pathankot and Kishan Lal, resident of Ujraj Bagh in Jammu and Kashmir on the charge of transporting 1170 willow cricket bats to Jalandhar without paying sales tax on those. The bats were packed in apple boxes.

MANDI AHMEDGARH
BOOKED: One person was booked by the Sudhar police under the NDPS Act for allegedly carrying poppy husk. Sarwan Singh of Bute Dian Chhanna village falling police station Mehat Pur was intercepted by a police party posted at Jodhan chowki. Twenty eight kilos of poppy husk were seized from him. His scooter was also impounded.

STORE: Dr J S Gujral, Vice-chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, would lay foundation stone of Ayurvedic Hospital Building to be constructed by Guru Nanak Ayurvedic Medical College and Research Institute Gopalpur on Monday. Mr Balwinder Singh, chairman of the trust, said a cultural program would follow foundation stone laying ceremony.

Phillaur
Hundreds of residents of nearby Apra village in the sub-division demonstrated in the village to express concern over burglaries in 16 shops of the village on Saturday night. ASI Rajinder Kumar, posted at the village has assured the demonstrators for early action.

CHANDIGARH

Panchkula
INAUGURATED: The 10-day long Green Channel Programme for Excellence was inaugurated at the SBI Staff Training Centre, by Mr Hemant G. Contractor, Chief General Manager of the bank. As many as 38 bank officers are attending the training programme on agricultural banking.

WORKSHOP: A two-day workshop on personality development concluded at St Vivekanand Millennium School at Pinjore. The workshop was conducted by Indus Quality Foundation for teachers of schools in Panchkula, Chandigarh and Mohali, besides faculty of the school.

HARYANA

Sonepat
Suicide: A young housewife, Mrs Suresh Devi, was reported to have committed suicide by sprinkling kerosene on her body and setting the clothes on fire in her in-laws’ house at Nahri village, about 25 km from here, on Sunday night. The police has seized the body and sent it for a post-mortem examination. She was married to Anil of Nahri village about eight years ago. The Kundli police has registered a case against Anil and four other members of the in-laws’ family.

Theft cases: Four cases of theft were reported from Kharkhaud town, 19 km from here, on Sunday night. Thieves reportedly broke the locks of a ration shop and decamped with a colour TV set, Rs 800 and documents from it. Similarly, thieves entered the shop of a “khabari” and stole Rs 400 and other goods. Thieves broke opened the locks of tea shop and decamped with an LPG cylinder. Thieves also entered another shop and took away goods.

Arrested: The Mahila police on Monday claimed to have arrested Shamsher (25) of Shahzadpur village in connection with attempt to rape case registered against him on the complaint of Mrs Sheela Devi, mother of Saroj (23) of the same village. The youth had forced his way into the house when Saroj was alone. He made an attempt to rape her. 
When she raised the alarm, some neighbours arrived there but the youth escaped.

Road accidents: One person was killed and 10 others were injured, one of them seriously, in a series of accidents on National Highway No. 1 and the Sonepat-Meerut road, near here, on Sunday night. The victim was identified as Dhan Singh, a resident of Pithopra village, in the district. He was employed in the Health Department at Delhi.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Nahan
CHILD KILLED: The Rajgarh police has registered a case under Section 304 of the IPC against the driver of bus Padamdev. The driver is alleged to have crushed to death a two and half years old Ritesh at Senio Deedag village, 120 km from here, on Saturday. In his report filed with the Rajgarh police, Pawan Kumar, father of the deceased, has alleged that the bus on its way to Bharari village was over speeded when it his child to death.

ONE BOOKED: A minor scheduled caste girl, resident of Sharesh village in a report filed with the Rajgarh police has alleged that on February 3 Nishu, resident of Chandas village had raped her. A case has been registered.