R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

ABOHAR
Drug trafficking: Members of the village panchayat and Naujwan Sudhar Sabha have joined hands to eradicate drug trafficking in the government seed farm located on the outskirts of this sub divisional town. The police had booked maximum number of persons under the NDPS and Excise Act in this small village inhabited by former tenants of the state government.

Mid-day meal: Believing that nearly 20 per cent of the students were abstaining on an average from the primary schools, the state government has reduced supply of grains for the mid-day meals scheme, sources said. Officials confirmed having received a communication from the Directorate of Education Punjab to cut down the supplies. At present, grains were being supplied for 8436 students against total strength of 10579 students in the elementary schools here. Sources said that 47 government schools and eight privately run aided schools were eligible for getting supplies to serve meals to the students. 

AMRITSAR
Murder case: With the arrest of a person, the district police on Saturday claimed to have solved a blind murder case of Harbhajan Singh, a resident of Mata Ganga Nagar, who was found murdered on October 30 when he was alone in the house. Mr R.P.S. Brar, SSP, in a press release issued said Resham Singh, a resident of Chatiwind village had killed him. 

Two arrested: The district police on Saturday arrested Suresh Kumar of Railway Colony, B-block, and Arun Kumar of Lahori Gate for allegedly stealing vehicles and snatching chains. According to press release, the police recovered three motorcycles and two gold chains. Further investigations were on. 

Beaten up: Mr K.M. Tripathi, general secretary, All India Sri Chaitanya Jan Kalyan Parishad (an NGO) and a resident of the city, claimed here on Saturday that he was beaten up by a UP cop for objecting against his smoking in the train. The incident occurred in a passenger train on November 7 in which he was traveling from Kas Ganj to Bareilly.

BARNALA
2 arrested: The local police arrested two persons, including a woman under N.D.P.S. Act. Giving this information, SSP, Barnala, G. Nageshwar Rao, said that Krishna, wife of Manohar Singh, a resident of Ram Bagh locality, has been arrested with 8 kg poppy husk. A case u/s 15/61/85 NDPS Act has been registered against her. Similarly, police arrested Lachman Singh with 20 gm of opium at Dhanula. A case has been registered in this regard.

FARIDKOT
Community hall: Deputy Commissioner Alok Shekhar laid the foundation stone of a community hall in the memory of freedom fighter late Niranjan Singh at his native village Kaniawala, about 30 km from here on Friday.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
Function: The Brahmin Sabha, Sirhind, held a “parivar milan samaroh” at Mandir Shri Mata Naina Devi on Sunday. Several Brahmin families from the town participated in the function. The function started with havan. Vaid Hari Krishan, president, DCC, and Adviser Brahmin Sabha highlighted the activities of the Sabha and said the community believed in peace, communal harmony and had always respected all religions. Cultural items were presented by the children belonging to the community and langar was served to all.

HOSHIARPUR
Relief provided: As many as 1150 members, including ladies and children, of 215 migrant labourer families have been affected in devastating fire at Chabewal, 8 km from here on Friday. Nearly 215 jhuggies and 4 shops were gutted in fire. Mr D.K. Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner, visited the site and provided 215 tarpaulins along with other material donated by Arora Charities Hoshiarpur and clothes to the fire victims.

NAWANSHAHR
Grants distributed: The Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha, and local MP, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, presided over two functions at Sikh National College, Banga and Guru Nanak Mission Medical and Educational Trust, Dhahan Kaleran, near here on Saturday and distributed grants for the promotion of education, health services and for carrying out development activities in the urban and rural areas in the constitutency.

CHANDIGARH

BAL DIVAS: The World Peace Mission Trust observed Bal Divas on Sunday at its literacy centre with the children of labourers from near the Gurudwara Sector 49, here. The services of the mission founder, Mr Avtar Singh Sethi, were highlighted. Woollens donated by Mr Sanjay Gabba and reading and writing material donated by Mr B L Jain, proprieter Dev Darshan Dhoop Industries, and Mr Pawan Kumar Garg of Sector 46. They were distributed among children. Mr Danesh Kakkar, an industrialist, presided over the function and donated Rs 5100 for the children. 

Music competition: Pepsi — “Symphony 2005”, a music competition for schools and colleges was organised at Kalagram on Sunday. The day long event saw students from schools and colleges participate in four categories — western group, western solo, Hindi solo and Punjabi solo. The competition resulted in eight winners and runners up being chosen along with two overall winners. Artistes Bobby Cash, Band ‘Stampede’, John and Harjit Singh were the judges for the event. 

MOHALI
Medical Camp: As many as 57 children were examined during a medical camp organised for children and newborns at the Cheema Medical Complex Phase IV here on Sunday. The children were examined by Dr V.J.S. Virdi Paediatrician and Paediatric Nephrologist. Free medical advice, medicines and patient education material were provided on the occasion. Dr B.S Cheema said the camp was held to mark Children’s Day. 

Healthy baby show: A healthy baby show was organised at Charak Child Care clinic, here on Sunday. More than 200 kids in 0-4 year age group participated in the different age categories. The judges based their assessment on overall growth, development, vaccination and their interaction with the kids. The judges included Ms Anu Mahajan, Dr Parminder, Dr Harpreet Ms Sanjana Goyal. The show was conducted at the Shri Laxminarayan Mandir. The winners included: (0-1 yr)— Simrat Pal, Arnav, Urmeet; (1-2 yr)— Harmanjot, Dev, Pari; (2-3) yr— Sargam, Armaan, Suhani; (3-4 yr)— Tanvee, Ananya, Ekam. 

PANCHKULA
Meeting: A meeting of the Senior Citizens Association of Kalka was held at Kalka under the chairmanship of Mr S.S. Nanda here on Sunday. The meeting was called in order to discuss the preparations for the forthcoming Pensioner’s Day celebrations on December 17. The members also discussed problems being faced by them, in dealing with the public offices. 

Flayed: The Citizens Welfare Association has decried the poor law and order situation in the town. In a press release, Mr S.K. Nayar, president of the association, said cases of theft, burglary, eve teasing etc were on the rise. Blaming the large-scale migrant population for the rising crime graph, Mr Nayar exhorted the police to be more watchful. 

Launched: Simoco Telecommunucations (South Asia), launched its new alliance with Gianmt China HYT, for new range of two-way radio at Gymkhana Club, Sector 6, on Saturday. The HYT team led by Mr Andy Chao, Director Sales, and Simoco team led by Mr Madhu Kumar, vice-president, were present on the occasion.