R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

ABOHAR
Canara Bank performance: Mr Surinder Kumar Jakhar, Chairman, IFFCO, on Monday, inaugurated Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Chowk, here. Canara Bank has renovated the chowk located opposite Clock Tower in response to a call given by the Divisional Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu. Mr B. Venugopal Shetty, AGM of the bank, said that Canara Bank had scaled new horizons while completing hundred years of its growth. It had deposits worth Rs 97 crore and Rs 61 crore had been advanced as loans.

Bathinda
DC announces 50 lakh grant: Mr Rahul Bhandari, Deputy Com-missioner, on Monday, announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the construction of Guru Gobind Singh multipurpose complex. Ms Bhandari made the announcement at local Government Rajindra College where he was to preside over talent hunt competition. He also cautioned the students against drug abuse and female foeticide.

BATALA
Counselling session: Baring Union Christian College (BUCCO), organised a counselling session for the students of PGDCA, B.Sc (medical, non-medical and economics) here on Tuesday. Students were explained higher education options in the fields of finance, management, banking, insurance, accounting, commerce and technology.

HOSHIARPUR
Centre for disabled: A rehabilitation centre for the disabled is being opened in the District Red Cross building complex, Hoshiarpur, for which the Ministry of Social Justice, Government of India, has released Rs 10,74,000. The centre would provide services to poor persons and middle-class families, free of cost or on nominal charges.

Jalalabad
Bank takes over property: The local branch of State Bank of Patiala took the physical possession of the property mortgaged in the accounts of Pawan Machinery Store and Surjit Cloth House, on Monday, by putting locks and seals, according to the the various provisions and sections of the SRESI Act, 2002. Pawan Machinery Store and Surjit Cloth House owed Rs 2,41,503 and Rs 2,27,742, respectively.

Jalandhar
Car stolen: A new Maruti Zen car of Mr Kamal Sharma, a patwari posted at Lambra village on the city outskirts, has been stolen from in front of a marriage palace on the Jalandhar-Phagwara GT road. Mr Sharma’s car(PB-02-T2720) was stolen when he and his family were attending a marriage function.

Khanna
Declamation contest: A declamation contest on drug de-addiction was organised at AS Modern Senior Secondary School to commemorate the birth anniversary of late Mohan Lal Singhi, a known Journalist, by the media centre here on Tuesday. Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, president of the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee, was the chief guest, while the function was presided over by Ms Harbans Kaur Dullo, Parliamentary Secretary. Mr Ashok Malik, Assistant Editor, Dainik Tribune, was the guest of honour. Students of various schools participated in the contest. The winners were given prizes.

Ludhiana
SMS tones: Hutch on Monday announced the launching of SMS tones, a new service that allows users to set a message alert tone of their choice in addition to the ones available on their handset.

Seminar: The Securities and Exchange Board of India, along with the Ludhiana Stock Exchange Association, conducted a seminar for investors at Ferozepore cantonment on Saturday. It was attended by around 200 persons.

Hutch offer: Hutch has introduced a new offer for its prepaid subscribers under which the subscribers can select a Hutch number on basis of numerology. A company press statement today said customers can now personalise their mobile numbers which are available on the new 98888 pre-paid series.

Nawanshahr
Women empowerment: Jagriti, the women empowerment cell of the local R.K. Arya College, organised a lecture on ‘Women Empowerment’ by Prof Luxmi Kanta Chawla, a former MLA and social worker, on Monday. Ms Chawla called upon the girls to follow the glorious values and traditions of our rich heritage and culture.

HARYANA

Kurukshetra
Broadband service: Broadband service of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is likely to be started here by November, 2005. An indication to this effect was given by Mr Gokul Singh, Chief General Manager, Telecom, Haryana Circle, while addressing a press conference at a local hotel here on Sunday evening. Mr Singh said a demand note for the required equipment had been forwarded to the agency concerned.

Karnal
Lok Adalat: As many as 225 cases were settled in a Lok Adalat organised at new judicial complex here on Saturday. The cases settled were those of petty criminal offences, traffic challans and family disputes and violations of the Negotiable Instrument Act

PANIPAT
Workers protest: Workers associated with the blanket industry in the district held a protest march in the town on Monday and went on an indefinite strike. Demanding full wages, the workers demanded that the administration ensured their legal rights.

2 women held: The district police has arrested two women on the charges of immoral trafficking. Sources said the two local women were held from a local hotel on Jatal road on Monday evening falling under the Chandni Bagh area. A case has been registered against the duo.

REWARI
Murder case solved: With the arrest of Sunil, a resident of Chandawas village, near here, the Government Railway Police claims to have solved the murder case of Vinod Kumar of Pranpura village whose mutilated body was found on the Rewari-Narnaul track, here, on June 18. Sunil was produced in a local court on Monday which remanded him in police custody till September 22.

2 killed in road mishaps: Two persons, including a motorcyclist, died in separate road accidents in the district on Monday. Motorcyclist Sanjay at Kankar Ki Dhani village in Rajasthan died when his motor cycle was hit from behind by a Haryana Roadways bus (HR-47-7953) on the Rewari-Bharawas road, near here. In another accident, an unidentified occupant of an autorickshaw (HR-55A-6588) died when it overturned and fell into a pit.

SONEPAT
Group clash: Two groups clashed in the judicial complex of the Mini Secretariat here on Tuesday. The police detained seven persons belonging to both groups for investigation. They were identified as Sandeep of Vishal Nagar, Karamvir Singh of Pipli Khera village, Sunil of Kakroi Road, Deepak Bansal, Krishan, Naveen and Mahesh of Rohtak.

Traffic blocked: Traffic was held up on the Sonepat-Bahalgarh road, near Vivekanand Chowk, here on Tuesday for two hours by residents of Sikka Colony and Janata Colony in protest against supply of contaminated drinking water by the Public Health Department. A large number of vehicles were lined up on both sides of the road, causing inconvenience to the travelling public. On receipt of information, the police arrived on the scene and succeeded in lifting the blockade after about two hours.

murder accused arrested: The police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested another accused in connection with the alleged murder of a youth, Amit, at Gita Bhavan chowk in broadday light on August 20. Mr Rajinder Singh, Superintendent of Police, told mediapersons here that the culprit was identified as Kamaljit, alias Kamlu, of Bhainswal Kalan village. The number of arrests made in this connection has now risen to six.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
Protest march: A joint front comprising various organisations and residents of this region led by the Chamba Welfare Association on Monday offered prayers in the Lakshmi Narayan temple complex for the withdrawal of excessive taxation on the water charges.

DALHOUSIE
14 injured: As many as 14 persons were injured when a “jhoola” broke in a wrestling fair at Bathri, 12 km from here on Monday. The injured were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Bathri.

Dharamsala
Seminar: A seminar on career counselling was organised by the ICFAI University here. Mr K.J.B.V.Subramanium, Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, was the chief guest and Mr V.K.Aggarwal, Divisional Commissioner, Kangra, was the guest of honour.