R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
URGED: Dharam Jagran, an NGO, took serious notice of posters by members of a particular community exhorting the public to watch miracles being performed at Goal Bagh here from April 17 to 23. Swami Kiran Giriraj, president of the organisation, said they would urge the district administration not to give permission to hold such programmes in the interest of peace and tranquillity.

AKHAND PATH: The bhog of Akhand path and langar was held at Orthopedic ward of the local Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, here on Wednesday. Prof Darbari Lal, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Sunil Datti, Mayor, Civil Surgeon and doctors of the hospital participated.

Hoshiarpur
DUPED: A case of duping was reported at Mahilpur police station here on Wednesday. On a complaint by Mr Bagicha Singh, son of Chanan Ram of Jagniwal, a case has been registered against travel agents, Manjit Singh and Usha Rani, residents of Motian village and Balwant Rai of Parladpur, New Delhi. Mr Bagicha Singh alleged that they had duped him of Rs 4.42 lakh for sending his son abroad. But they neither sent his son abroad not returned the money.

STRIKE: Vegetables and fruits commission agents of Garhshankar, Saila Khurd, Mahilpur and Kot Fatuhi observed strike here on Thursday in protest against the proposed collection of market fee through private contractors. A deputation of commission agents met Subdivisional Magistrate, Garhshankar, and submitted memorandum to him.

Kapurthala
CREDIT PLAN: The annual credit plan for year 2005-06 for Kapurthala district amounting to Rs 770 crore was launched at a function here on Wednesday. The credit plan for the year envisages an increase of 28.80 per cent over the last year’s plan of Rs 597.85 crore. The projected increase over previous year goes to 33, 21.19 and 27.26 per cent in agriculture, SSI and other priority sector, respectively.

LUDHIANA
SHOBHA YATRA: Chairman Shakti Pradhan and president Nirmal Nayyar of Shri Ram Utsav Committee, Millerganj, said in a press note that all arrangements for shobha yatra to be taken out on April 16 have been completed. The route would include Industrial Area, Pratap Chowk, Basant Park, Jaimal Singh Road, Bhagwan Chowk, Cycle Market and Vishwakarma Chowk.

inaugurated: An SGPC member and president of Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Model Town Extension, Sardar Avtar Singh Makkar, inaugurated a dastaar institute in Ludhiana set up by the Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle here on Thursday.

Nawanshahr
ASSAILED: Mr Dev Raj Skohpuri, district president of the Lok Bhalai Party, here on Thursday criticised the state government for cancelling holiday on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Mr Skohpuri assailed the proposal of the government to handover government schools to the private sector. He said it would deprive the common man, especially Dalits and people belonging to backward classes, to get education in the state. He said it had exposed the anti-Dalit face of the Congress government.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Lions Club, Banga Mehak: president—Mr Rajesh Kumar; vice-president—Mr Ram Krishan; secretary—Mr Rajnish Nayyar; PRO—Mr Nav Kant; and treasurer—Mr Desh Raj.

Phagwara
BAN: The Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, Mr Rakesh Verma, has banned harvesting wheat with combine harvesters between 7pm and 9 am. Mr Pritam Singh, SDM, said here on Thursday that stern action would be taken against those violating the order.

SEIZED: The Kapurthala police here on Thursday seized 8.36 quintals of poppy husk from a truck, according to Mr Arun Pal Singh, SSP, Kapurthala. He said on a tip-off a police party headed by Sub-Inspector, Gurwinder Singh, SHO, Sultanpur Lodhi, put a naka near Dadwandi village and impounded the truck. Occupants of the truck escaped. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered.

Phillaur
STOPOVER: Authorities of the Northern Railway have decided to provide a brief halt of Swaran Shatabadi Express at the local railway station from Friday. Railway sources said Amritsar bound 2029 UP train would arrive here at 11.41 a.m. and depart at 11.43 a.m. and the New Delhi bound 2030 DN train would reach the local railway station at 6.25 p.m. and leave at 6.27 p.m.

Samana
FIRE: A plywood factory situated on the Samana-Patiala road was damaged in a fire here on Thursday. Material worth lakhs of rupees was damaged. The reason of the fire could not be ascertained.

WHEAT PROCUREMENT: Dr B.C. Gupta, Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, Punjab, visited the grain market at Samana on Wednesday and checked the weight of wheat bags and quality of wheat. Mr Gupta said Rs 5,940 crore had already been released by the Reserve Bank of India for procurement of wheat. He said 72 per cent procurement of wheat had already been done till Wednesday in Patiala and Sangrur districts.

Tarn Taran
BOOKED: On the basis of viscera’s report of Supreet Kaur (27), four persons, including the husband of the deceased, have been booked under various Sections of the IPC. She had died under mysterious circumstances on December 7, 2004. The father of the deceased, Mr Gurdial Singh, alleged that his daughter had been harassed for dowry by her husband, Prabh Mehar Singh, mother-in-law, Baljit Kaur, daughter-in-law, Nirmaljit Kaur, and Shamsher Singh, alias Somi.

HARYANA

Sonepat
ROBBED: A housewife, Ms Shaloo, was reportedly robbed of Rs 5,000 by two unidentified motor cycle-borne armed youths in Sector 15 here on Friday. According to a report, she was going to DAV School for her son’s admission. On the way, the youths pounced upon her and snatched the purse containing Rs 5,000 and fled. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Dharamsala
INDEFINITE FAST: The indefinite fast by lawyers of district courts entered its fourth day here on Thursday. They are protesting against the imposition of professional tax and hike in the court fee. Mr Mahinder Dhiman, president, District Bar Association, said the strike would continue until the government withdrew the decision.

Nurpur
ELECTED: Mr Karan Oberai was re-elected president of the Nurpur block Congress Committee for the second time here on Thursday. Mr Baldev Pappi and Mr Rajiv were elected as vice-president and treasurer, respectively, of the committee. Mr Ajay Mahajan, Director, HPTDC, was elected delegate, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, whereas, Mr Chamel Singh, Mr Ved Pathania, Mr Prem Chand, Ms Tripta Saini and Ms Krishna Devi were elected members of the Kangra District Congress Committee at an election meeting held at Jassur. Mr Sat Mahajan, MLA and Revenue Minister, presided over the meeting.