R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Bathinda
PATWARI HELD: Darshan Singh, Patwari, Revenue circle, Akalian Kalan, was caught here on Wednesday while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 in lieu of making entries of mutation in the revenue record. Mr Amrik Singh, SSP, Vigilance Bureau, said a team led by Mr Ashutosh Kaushal, DSP, Vigilance Bureau, arrested Darshan Singh. Mr Jagsir Singh, a resident of Akalian Kalan village, had complained the bureau in this regard.

Ferozepore
ELECTED: Former minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon has been unanimously elected President of the District Shiromani Akali Dal.

Jagraon
3 BOOKED: Three young men are alleged to have made an attempt to stop a vehicle and fired shots and later fled. According to information, Satwinderjit Singh of Ludhiana was going to Raikot in his Tata Safari (PB-10-BE-5555) and reached near Satsang Bhavan, Raikot Road, Raqba. Three youths standing on roadside signalled him to stop and when he ignored them and then they opened fire and later fled. The Dakha police has registered a case under Sections 387, 506, 511, 34 IPC.

KHANNA
ECONOMIC CENSUS: The fifth economic census will be done in Khanna block using the ICR technology under the supervision of the Executive Officer of the municipal council and the Block Development Officer of Khanna. This was stated by the SDM, Khanna, Mr Jaspal Mittal, at a meeting here on Wednesday.

strike against VAT: On the second day of the three-day strike against the implementation of VAT, a total bandh was observed by traders and industrialists here today. A group of traders was seen asking traders to close their establishments in the markets, which were partially open.

Ludhiana
GATKA: Mr Charankamal Singh, general secretary of the Guru Nanak Singh Study Circle, in a press note said a team of girl students of Baba Deep Singh, Academy of Martial Arts will perform gatka in a gurudwara in Manchester, UK. Mr Ravinder Pal Singh, in charge of the academy, said they aimed at training both young boys and girls not only in ‘gatka’ but also in martial arts like karate.

CHANDIGARH

Panchkula
SUICIDE BID: Mr Naresh Kumar (35), a resident of Sector 19, tried to commit suicide by consuming some poisonous substance, here on Thursday. He was admitted to General Hospital, Sector 6. The doctors referred him to the PGI, Chandigarh, after his health deteriorated in the afternoon.

HARYANA

Bhiwani
KILLED: One person was stabbed to death in front of his house in Sector 13 here on Tuesday night. According to information, the deceased was identified as Dharambir. He was working as a driver with the Haryana School Education Board. He was reportedly sleeping when he was attacked. A case has been registered.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the District Bar Association: president-Mr Raj Kumar Dhangar; vice-president- Mr Dheeraj Saini and secretary-Mr Radhey Shyam Sharma.

Rewari
ORDER: The District Education Officer, Mr Lal Chand, has said 12 private high schools and 33 private middle schools running in residential premises in the district have been directed to close down their schools with effect from April 1.

Rohtak
ELECTED: Dr V.K. Jain, Professor and Head, Department of Skin, of the local Postgraduate Institute of Medical Science (PGIMS) here, was on Wednesday elected member of the Medical Council of India.

Sonepat
CAUGHT: A youth, Hemant, was caught by officials of the flying squad led by Dr Sultan Singh, Subdivisional Magistrate, while he was appearing in place of his brother, Amit, in the annual distance education examination at an examination centre in the local CRA College here on Tuesday. Hemant was handed over to the police. A case has been registered against Hemant and his brother, Amit.

MEDICAL CAMP: As many as 396 patients were examined by a team of doctors at a medical check-up camp organised by the local branch of the State Bank of Patiala. The camp concluded at Ganaur town on Tuesday.

ORDERED: The District Magistrate has promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Cr PC banning the assembly of five or more persons within the jurisdiction of 200 metre of polling stations set up for the gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zila parishad elections in the district. The order will remain in force on April 3, 9 and 16.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the District Press Club of Sonepat: patrons-Mr R.D. Sapra, Mr Rajinder Mehra and Mr B.S. Malik; president-Mr Shanti Bhushan; senior vice-president-Mr Dheeraj Sharma; vice-presidents-Mr Kuldeep and Mr Anil Khatri; general secretary-Mr Yogesh Sood; secretary-Mr Surinder Panwar; organising secretary-Mr Bijender Kumar; and treasurer-Mr Narinder Sharma Parwana.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Chamba
CHOWGAN TO REOPEN: The local Municipal Council has decided to reopen the legendary verdant Chowgan of Chamba on April 15, when the state of Himachal Pradesh came into existence. The Chowgan was closed in December last for the upkeep and improvement. Mr S.P. Dhall, president, Municipal Council, said recent heavy rains during the past three months in this region had rejuvenated the greenery and scenery of the Chowgan.

Dharamsala
POLIO DRIVE: Special polio booths will be set up in all major public places in the district during the two phases of Intensive Pulse Polio Immunization campaign on April 10 and 15. Deputy Commissioner Bharat Khera said he had asked all Sub-Divisional Magistrates and officials of the Health Department to reach out to eligible children across the district. He said voluntary organisations were also being involved in the campaign.

Shimla
DRINKING WATER: Residents of nearby Bakhraj, Shanan and Malyana villages have demanded proper chlorination and treatment of drinking water being supplied to them as a large number of people had been afflicted with water- borne diseases like jaundice and diarrhoea. The president of the Kalyani Vikas Samiti, Mr Virender Verma, said it appeared that the water being supplied by the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) department was not being treated properly as it looked muddy and dirty.