R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Jalandhar
Traffic blocked: The traffic at the main highway on the Gulab Devi Road was blocked for two hours on Tuesday by some people who were demanding action against a councillor for allegedly assaulting a youth. The protestors also “gheraoed” the Maksudan police station here. They alleged that the police had registered false cases under non-bailable sections against a supporter of the youth.

Rally: Protesting against the contractual appointment of paramedical staff and doctors through zila parishads and panchayats, and the proposal to privatise government hospitals, the Coordination Committee of Paramedical and Health Employees organised a demonstration in front of the office of the Civil Surgeon here on Monday. The members also called for regular appointment of the staff against vacant posts. Mr Harinder Singh, co-convener, said the protest demonstrations would be held till March 24 in all districts. He said that a state-level rally would be held on April 27 in Chandigarh.

Phagwara
Eve-teasers rounded up: Tension prevailed at a local marriage palace on the Banga Road when some youths indulged in eve-teasing and vandalism during a marriage function here on Monday night. The police was informed about the incident and two youths were rounded up in this connection. According to City Police Station SHO Gurvinder Singh, later the issue was amicably resolved.

HARYANA

Bhiwani
Procurement centres: Keeping in view the smooth procurement of mustard, the district administration has constituted eight procurement centres in the district. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sri Kant Walgad, said here on Monday that the procurement work would start through the cooperative societies and HAFED in the district. The centres have been set up at New Grain Market Bhiwani, Jui, Loharu, Behal, Topsham, Siwani, Charkhi Dadri and Badhra.

Bandh observed: The Hansi Chowk market observed a complete bandh on Monday to pay homage to Deepak Kumar (30), owner of Shoe Palace, who died on Saturday night. The Bhiwani Beopar Mandal, Hansi Chowk Shopkeepers’ Union and others have condoled his death.

Kurukshetra
Elected: Mr Kulwant Singh Saini has been elected president of Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has nominated Dr Narinder Pal Gupta as secretary and Mr Naval Kishor Batra as treasurer while rest of the office-bearers are yet to be nominated.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Bilaspur
Liquor shops auctioned: Liquor shops of Bilaspur district comprising the Bilaspur excise unit and Suharghat excise unit were auctioned for Rs 16.46 crore at Kisan Bhavan here on Monday which is an increase of 9.62 per cent from last year.

Term extended: The Himachal Government has extended the term of the state-level Bhakra Dam Oustees Rehabilitation and Advisory Committee for one year. The notification issued by the government at Shimla says the committee will monitor the progress of the implementation of the rehabilitation work of the oustees of Bhakra Dam project.

Dharamsala
Pensions sanctioned: The state government has sanctioned 4,231 pension cases in Kangra district under various pension schemes of the Welfare Department. The sanctioned list includes 1,574 old-age pension cases, 1,333 widow and 1,324 handicapped pension cases. A total of Rs 53.31 lakh would be spent every quarter over these sanctioned cases. This was revealed by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Sat Mahajan here on Monday while presiding over the meeting of the district-level welfare committee.