R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

HOSHIARPUR
Pre-school centre: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.K. Tiwari on Monday inaugurated the first pre-school centre at Saincha village , about 8 km from here. The centre is first in the chain of 100 centres to be opened in association with gram panchayats and Sarav Sikhiya Abhiyan in Hoshiarpur district.

Chain snatched: At least 4 unidentified young women snatched gold chain from Harbans Kaur, wife of Harjit Singh, a resident of Chalang, here on Monday while she was boarding a bus.

JALANDHAR
Four held: The district police chief said here on Monday that the police had arrested Mangal Singh and Gurpal Singh, for illegally possessing liquor. A case under the Excise Act has been registered. While two others, Sanjay Kumar and Lakhbir Singh had been arrested for gambling.

Album released: Noted Punjabi pop singer Harbhajan Mann released his new album, ‘Dil Dol Gaya’ here on Monday. The singer said songs were written by Babu Singh Mann.

PATIALA
2-hour strike: The Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation workers have decided to suspend work for two hours from 12 noon to 2 pm on Thursday in the support of their demands. This was stated by Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary, PRTC Workers’ Union, and Mr Sucha Singh, president, PRTC Motor Mazdoor Union.

PATHANKOT
Science fair: A science fair was inaugurated by Jathedar Dilbagh Singh here on Monday. About 150 students from 42 different schools participated in the fair. A quiz competition was also organised. 

PHAGWARA
Case registered: The Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) on Monday got cases registered against two persons with the local police for carving out a colony on the PUDA land in Phagwara. The accused were Sandeep Singh and Jasbir Singh of Gobindpura locality near here. However, they were at large. 

Khaira elected: Mr Roshan Khaira was unanimously elected president of the Kapurthala Working Journalists’ Association on Monday. Mr Jagmohan Chauhan and Mr Tej Bahadur Singh were the Returning Officers.

ROPAR
Rally: Hundreds of followers of Dera Sacha Sauda on Tuesday held a rally protesting against the CBI move of allegedly harassing some of the followers of sect in a three-year-old case. The members of the sect also submitted a memorandum to the district administration. 

CHANDIGARH

Mr Sunder Lal Bahuguna, plants an Ashoka pandola sapling during an ongoing NSS camp at Government College, Sector 11, in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Interaction: To promote and propagate the importance of environment, the NSS unit of Government College, Sector 11, and Yuvsatta organised an interaction of 160 NSS volunteers with noted environmentalist,. Sunder Lal Bahuguna. Mr Bahuguna told the students to use their head, heart and hands to make this world a better place to live in. Mr Bahuguna planted an Ashoka pandola tree in the college. 

Freshers’ party: Students of the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Institute of Vocational Studies, Sector 27, organised a freshers’ party on Monday to welcome the first semester students. The chief guest for the occasion was Mr Harnam Das Johar. The students of first and third semester presented a cultural programmes during the event.

Charge taken: In compliance with the orders of the Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Irrigation (IPP-2 Branch), Mr Wattan Singh Minhas, has taken over charge as Administrative Officer-II, in the Office of the Chief Engineer, Irrigation Works, Punjab, Chandigarh. 

Elected: The following have been elected to the management committee of Nirvana Cooperative House Building Limited, Sector 49-B:Ms Rita Gangahar, Mr Tarsem, Mr Surinder Kumar, Mr Kanwarjit Singh, Mr BK Saigal, Mr Anil Gupta and Mr Ashok Kumar.

Demanded: The Residents Welfare Association(Block 469 to 511), Sector 32-A,on Tuesday demanded re-starting of the cash collection centre in the sector. The centre was closed following the start of e-Samparak Centre at Sector 47. The closing down of the centre at Sector 32 had increased rush at the Sector 20 Cash Collection Centre putting residents to inconvenience, a press note said. 

Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Panchsheel Enclave Residents Welfare Association, Zirakpur: president — Lieut-Col I.V.S. Sodhi; vice-president — Mr N.R. Lakesh; general secretary — Mr G.S. Bhogal; joint secretary — Mr Tejinder Pal Singh; and treasurer — Mr R.P. Rana.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Additional fund: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has assured that additional fund of Rs 11 lakh will be provided to the PWD for completion of construction work of district headquarters building of fire brigade at Nihal sector of the town. The assurance was given to a delegation of district Fire Brigade Employees Union.

HAMIRPUR
Wildlife Week: As many as 250 students from 20 educational institutions in the district took part in various competitions organised in Bachat Bhavan to commemorate the Wildlife Week here on Tuesday. The events included skit, painting, debate and quiz. Divisional Forest Officer Sanjay Sood said that the competitions would help students know more about the wildlife. 

NURPUR
Opium seized: Following a tip-off the Indora police intercepted a Maruti car (HP-38A-7973) and seized 2.6 kg of opium. Ranjeet Singh, alias Lucky, of Seerat village was arrested under the NDPS Act.