R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
PAK NATIONALS HELD: Two Pakistani nationals were arrested on crossing zero line on Tuesday. The BSF said that Liaquat Ali (34), a son of Julfikar Ashraf Ali of Atari village in Dipalpur subdivision of Okara district of West Punjab, was arrested near Jodha Bhaini village. His four accomplices were yet to cross the border, he said. Shamsher Khan (60) was arrested as he sneaked into Indian territory near Sunderpura border observation post. He said he had lost track during a storm. Both were handed over to the police

Amritsar
REQUESTED: Parents, whose wards cleared the PMET-2005 conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University and have got admission to the MBBS course in a letter to the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, on Tuesday requested that Justice Majithia’s report be notified at an early date.

GRANTED: Mr M. S. Gill, MP, has granted Rs 25 lakh out of his MP Development Grant to Guru Nanak Dev University for the extension to its Centre for South-Central Asian Studies building.

Barnala
CAMP: Mr G. Nageshwara Rao, SSP, Barnala police district, inaugurated a free pollution check camp at T-Point on college road here on Sunday.

Bathinda
BODY FOUND: The body of a Vishal Nagar resident was found under mysterious circumstances in Rampura Phul on Tuesday. According to sources, the deceased, Barinder Kumar, left home at about 9 am on Sunday. The sources said he was to visit some place with regard to his engagement on the same day. While there were rumours that he committed suicide, his family suspects it to be a case of murder.

INAUGURATED: Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research on Monday inaugurated its OPD. Addressing a press conference, the institute’s MD, Dr H.S. Gill, said the institute would be run on a no-profit-no-loss basis.

Hoshiarpur
ARRESTED: The Sadar police arrested Mangat Ram, alias Manga, of Channi under Indora police station in Kangra (HP) under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act and seized 1.05 lakh millilitres of illicit liquor from his Maruti car on Tuesday evening.

TRAVEL AGENT HELD: On the complaint of Avtar Singh, a son of Balwant Singh of Dwakhri, the Dasuya police has arrested a so-called travel agent, Amarjit Singh of Mirzapur Jande, under Section 420, IPC, for duping him of Rs 1.50 lakh. According to police sources, Avtar Singh stated in his complaint that Amarjit Singh took
Rs 1.50 lakh for sending him to Greece, but he neither sent him nor returned his money.

PUT ON FIRE: Harjinder Kumari, wife of Madan Mohan of Ward No. 12, Garhshankar, was seriously injured when her nephew, Ram Naresh, sarpanch of Pathrala, along with his accomplices allegedly set her ablaze at Bharta village on Tuesday. She was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Mahilpur, from where she was referred to the CMC, Ludhiana, in a serious condition. According to police sources, there was a property dispute between Madan Mohan and Ram Naresh.

Jagraon
Poppy Husk Seized: Manjit Singh of Khaira has been arrested by the Dehlon police for carrying 40 kg of poppy husk on scooter. The police has registered a case and impounded the scooter.

LOOTED: Some persons in a Maruti car (PCN 3901) are alleged to have intercepted the car of Satish Kumar of Lakkar Bazar, Ludhiana, Jagraon-Ludhiana road and looted Rs 400 from him. The police has registered a case under Sections 341, 382, 148, 149, IPC. No arrest has been made so far.

Jalandhar
JAILED: Mr S.K. Aggarwal, Additional Sessions Judge, Jalandhar, has sentenced two poppy husk smugglers to 10 years’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each of them. The accused would undergo imprisonment for additional three years if they fail to deposit the fine.

LUDHIANA
LITERARY MONTH: The Rotary Club celebrated “Literacy month” It’s president Rtn. Davinder Bhasin, secretary Rtn. S. Kulbir Jodhka Kelly, treasurer Rtn Rajan Kapur and other members of the club organised a function at Guru Nanak Girls High School, Model Town and Khalsa Girls High School, Civil Lines, Ludhiana. The club adopted 20 students from both schools and decided to pay their annual fee. The club also decided to help the schools to make their library well-equipped and help students for further studies.

SERVICE PROJECT: The Lions Club International organised a service project under which Rs 11,000 was handed over to Harjeet Singh for her wife, Harbhajan Kaur. She met with an accident and is under treatment at DMC Hospital. Those who were present at the function were Lion Barinder Noni, Lion Gurjeet Singh, Lion Arun Jindal and Lion H. J. S. Khera.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES: The Swami Vivekanand Group of Institutes, Chandigarh, will be opening five new educational institutes in the region from the session 2005-2006. The information was given by Mr Ashwani Garg, director, and Mr Anshu Kataria, honorary director, Swami Vivekanand Group, at a press conference here on Tuesday. The proposed institutes have been granted permission by the universities and councils.

Moga
WOMAN HELD: The police has arrested a woman and seized 10 kg of opium from her home in Godhe Wala, while her son, who was also involved in drug trade, has absconded. According to a release, the police got a tip-off that Surjit Kaur and her son Gurcharan Singh were selling opium and other narcotics from their home. A police party raided the house and seized 10 kg of opium.

Nawanshahr
VANAMAHOTSAVA: The local Rotary Club organised ‘vanmahotsava’ at Rotary Bhavan and Blood Donor’s Colony here on Tuesday. The Rotary members planted as many as 70 saplings, informed Mr Verinder Ummat, president.

ORGANISED: The local branch of the Bank of India organised ‘‘kisan divas’’ at Phanweran village. Mr S.K. Dhawan, AGM, Ludhiana zone, presided over and Mr D.K. Kapila, DDM, Nabard launched ‘‘Farmers’ Clubs’’ at Phanweran village and Burj Tehal Dass.

FUNCTION HELD: The Lions Club, Nawanshahr, organised a ‘tree plantation function’ at Barnala Kalan village. Mr Jagtar Singh Kainth, DSP, inaugurated the function by planting a sapling. The club members planted as many as 151 saplings around the sports stadium in the village, informed Mr Iqbal Singh, president of the club.

Phagwara
SOCIETY POLL: The following have been elected Directors of the Phagwara Sugarcane Growers’ Society: Mr Ajmer Singh Samrai, Mr Nirmal Singh Chaheru, Mr Sucha Singh Ucha, Mr Paramjit Singh Bhabiana, Master Harbhajan Singh, Major Singh Sahni, Mr Surjit Singh, Mr Manjit Singh Pharala, Mr Harjit Singh, Mr Rashpal Singh, Mr Kashmir Singh Birk, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sarhali, Mr Balvir Singh, Mr Bagadur Singh Chauhan, Mr Gurmel Singh Mandhali, Mr Dial Singh Dhada and Mr Kulwant Singh Dhanipind.

Phillaur
MINOR RAPED: A minor Dalit girl was allegedly gangraped by two youths, Rinku and Mani of Goraya, near Muai village in Phillaur subdivision. According to an FIR, the accused went to her house and asked her to attend a religious programme at the residence of her sister at Goraya. The girl went along with the youths. They took her in a kothi near the village with the help of a woman, Beero, and allegedly gangraped her for two days and two nights.

Tarn Taran
RECOVERED: A team of the local CIA staff has nabbed a two-member gang of vehicle thieves and recovered two cars and two motor cycles along with material to prepare fake registration certificates and other documents, according to Mr Ashok Bath, SP (Detective).

CHANDIGARH

Seminar: The Sector 36 office of the Government Examiner of Questioned Documents, under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, will organise a programme on ‘Emerging Trends in White Collar Crime and their Detection’ at the Central Forensic Institute Complex here on August 9. This was stated by the Deputy Government Examiner, Mr I.K. Arora.

Training Centre: The Chandigarh Administration has decided to establish an Inclusive Vocational Training-cum-Production Marketing Centre in Sector 46. This was stated in a press note issued here on Wednesday. The administration has already earmarked g 1.12 acres for the centre. It would be run by Chandigarh Child and Women Development Corporation.

Plantation drive: Vanamahotsava was celebrated by the Eco Club of Chandigarh Baptist School, here on Wednesday. Saplings were planted by members of the club and the Principal, Ms Sarojini Masih. A special awareness drive to keep the city clean was also started on the occasion.

Homage paid: The Servants of the People Society paid homage to Late Krishan Kant, former Vice-Presidency of India, on his third death anniversary. A large number of freedom fighters, senior citizens, social activists attended the ceremony organised at Lajpat Rai Bhavan, Sector 15, here.

Camp: A health check-up camp was organised by Sri Aurobindo School of Integral Education here on Wednesday. A team of doctors examined the students, who were provided with medical cards for follow-ups.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
MANGO FESTIVAL: Rattan Singh of Beharan village was declared the “best mango producer” at the two-day annual “mango fruit exhibition” organised by the Department of Horticulture at Ghumarwin. The other prize winners are: Reena Sharma, Lal Singh, Bharat Bhushan, Naval Sharma, Mahinder Singh, Manik Sharma and Shiv Ram.

Kangra
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Non-Gazetted Employees’ Association of Kangra district unit: president — Mr Ghanshyam Sharma; senior vice president — Mr R.C. Nag; and general secretary — Mr T.C. Koundal.

Shimla
URGED: The State Forest Corporation Employees’ Federation has urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, to cancel the vindictive transfers of the president, Mr Govind Chatranta and general secretary, Mr Prakash Sharma, to help restore democratic rights of the trade union. The executive of the federation which met here warned that employees all over the state could head for a statewide agitation if the vindictive action was not withdrawn.

SURVEILLANCE: The HIV sentinel surveillance round 2005 to estimate the HIV infection prevalence, will be held in the state from August 1. A one-day training workshop on Sentinel Surveillance was held here on Tuesday at which Dr R.N. Mahanta, Director Health Services, stressed that the quality of survey was very important to estimate the prevalence of HIV infection and its trend.