R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
Boy missing: Gursajan Singh, a dumb boy belonging to Atari, has been missing since August from the Golden Temple premises. He had gone there to pay obeisance with his father Pargat Singh. The police has failed to make any headway in the case. 

BATHINDA
Chief Engineer takes over: Chief Engineer, H.K Dua (O&M), took over the charge of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabbat, on Monday. Earlier, he had served in Guru Nanak Thermal Plant, Bathinda.

HOSHIARPUR
Farmers’ agitation: Farmers of Punjab will hold demonstrations from September 13. Rasta Roko and Rail Roko will be held on September 29 against anti-farmer and anti-people policies of the government. This was disclosed in a press note issued by Mr Gurbaksh Singh Soos, a farmers leader, here on Thursday.

LUDHIANA
No arrests without warrant: CM: Khalsa Panchayat on Thursday hailed the Chief Minister’s decision directing the police to ensure that no person was arrested without an arrest warrant. Mr Charanjit Singh Channy, member of the national presidium of the Khalsa Panchayat, said that a delegation of the panchayat had met the Chief Minister and brought to his notice the resentment among the masses over the arrests of innocent persons. They thanked the Chief Minister for his response.

MANSA
Cheating case: Five students were caught cheating in the supplementary matriculation examination at Government Senior Secondary School, Budhlada. Unfair means cases have been lodged against the students.

PATHANKOT
Protest against price hike: BJP activists led by district president Ashok Parasher on Thursday organised a protest against the recent hike in petroleum pieces. Former ministers, Mr Mohan Lal and Mr Satya Paul Saini, and former MLA, Mr Ram Lal, addressed the rally. 

Man held: The police on Wednesday arrested Hari Singh, a resident of Rajparura village, for allegedly possessing 4.5 kg of poppy husk. A case has been registered.

TARN TARAN
Prof Cheema assumes charge: Prof Major Singh Cheema took over the charge of Principal of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Government College on Thursday.

CHANDIGARH

College holds quiz: Government College, Sector 11, organised a quiz on Friday. Fifty questions were asked in one hour. As many as 88 students took part. Prashant Pandey of B. Sc-II stood first, Gladson David Masih of B.Sc II came second and Ashutosh of B.Sc II came third.

Seminar: A seminar on entrepreneurship development was organised at the Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26. Gurdev Singh Brar, president, Sikh Educational Society, Sector 26, was the chief guest.

Panchkula
Memo submitted: Members of the Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha on Friday submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner regarding the erratic power supply in the township. The delegation said there were unscheduled power cuts in the rural as well as urban areas, which was causing a lot of inconvenience to people.

Villages adopted: The State Bank of Patiala, Kalka branch, has decided to adopt villages in the Kalka sub division. Mr S.C. Dhall, Senior Manager of the bank, said the bank would offer more farmer-friendly schemes in these villages.

Camp for farmers: A two-day camp on mushroom cultivation was held at Hangola village from September 6 to 8. An official press release said, 80 villagers participated in the camp.

HARYANA

AMBALA
MEDICAL CAMP: A diabetes check-up camp was organised by Ambala Jaycees outside Dr Rajeev Gupta’s clinic on Friday. Ambala Jaycees president Vikas Chona said about 100 persons were examined at the camp.

FATEHABAD
Eye donation fortnight: Blindness is a curse. Though prevalent throughout the world, it is more serious in underdeveloped and developing countries. This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr O.P. Langyan, at a function organized during the 20th National Eye Donation fortnight here on Thursday. He appealed to the people to donate their eyes.

Literacy Day celebrated: International Literacy Day was celebrated at Manohar Memorial College here on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Yogesh Mehta highlighted the importance of literacy in the development of the country. Students presented various cultural items.

Sonepat
Goods damaged in fire: A variety of goods, including the bags of seed and fertilisers, were damaged in a fire which broke out in a shop on the Bahalgarh-Deepalpur road, near Bahalgarh, about 10 km from here, on Thursday night. The loss is estimated at more than Rs 1 lakh and the short-circuit was reportedly the cause of the fire.

4 students hurt in clash: At least four students were injured in a clash which took place on the premises of the general bus stand here on Friday. Hockey sticks and weapons were used in the clash.

YAMUNA NAGAR 
Residents hold protest: Residents of Shyampur village of Sadhoura block held a demonstration at the block’s electricity office on Wednesday. The villagers complained of erratic power supply in their village. Residents of Sarafa bazar, Kacha Quila, Nayitoli and Harijan basti held a dharna in front of Public Health Department on Thursday.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SUNDERNAGAR 
Illegal mining: The police has impounded six tractors for carrying sand and bajari without mining permits in a special drive against illegal mining.