The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

LETTERS

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

R E G I O N A L B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Abohar
Congregation honours dignitaries:SDM Jasdeep Singh Aulakh, former legislator Parkash Singh Bhatti, Madan Lal, chairman, Satya Sai B.Ed College, Subhash Ahuja, principal, Abhishek Polytechnic College and Praveen Middha, HoD, MIMIT, were honoured by presenting them with siropas during the concluding session of a three-day religious congregation. The congregation was organised by the Abohar Polytechnic College at village Kala Tibba near here, principal OP Bhadu informed.

Amritsar
Bank of Patiala opens new regional office: The Bank of Patiala has opened its new regional office-II at Mall road here. It would cater to 32 branches situated in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Batala, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Rayya and Ajnala. Ashwani Kumar Gupta, Director, inaugurated the office while T. Lokeshaiah, Chief General Manager of the bank, presided over the function. A customer meet was also organised on the occasion. Addressing the media, Gupta said there were about 1,000 branches all over the country, out of which 550 were situated in Punjab only. He said six new branches would be opened in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur region in near future.

Ajnala MLA gives Rs 2-lakh grant for school’s computer lab: Baba Karan Das Public School of Jagdev Khurd village in the border subdivision of Ajnala felicitated its students who excelled in education, games and cultural activities during its annual prize distribution function held recently. The students showcased glimpses of glorious Sikh history, freedom struggle and Punjabi culture. They reflected on contemporary social evils, like dowry, drug addiction, and female foeticide through skits. Amarpal Singh Bonny, MLA, Ajnala, was the chief guest. He announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for setting up a computer lab in the school. Principal of the school Ajit Ram Arora read the annual report of the school.

Bathinda
National conference at DAV College: A two-day UGC-sponsored national conference on ‘Advanced mathematics and its applications’ organized by the Postgraduate Department of Mathematics, DAV College, Bathinda, began on Friday. The keynote address was delivered by Dr V. Adimurthy, professor and senior advisor (interplanetary missions) at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).The conference was presided over by Bathinda SSP Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, while GS Gandhok, circle head, Punjab National Bank and Dr RK Tuteja from MD University, Rohtak, were the guests of honour. Dr JS Anand, principal of the college, welcomed the guests. The vote of thanks was proposed by PD Goyal, president, Arya Samaj, Bathinda, and vice-chairman, local committee of the college.

Exhibition at Central varsity: Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, celebrates its second Foundation Day on February 28. As part of these celebrations, the university is organizing painting and photography competitions on February 26. The themes for the competitions are environment, biodiversity and cancer in the Malwa region of Punjab. The exhibition of these paintings will be open for the public from 2 to 5 pm at the exhibition hall in the university. Dr Subhash Parihar, a Lalit Kala Akademi awardee in photography, will inaugurate the event. He has bagged over two dozen prizes in the field of art.

Doctor’s Week at OBC: Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) is celebrating 'Doctor's Week' from February 26 to March 4 as part of its 'Reach out to customers campaign' launched on the occasion of its 69th Foundation Day. During the week, the Oriental Bank's officials across the country shall visit the hospitals and clinics in their area to market deposit and other loan products to prospective customers.

Surgery feat at Adesh: A remarkable hip surgery was performed at the Adesh Hospital and Research Centre, Muktsar. The surgery was performed on a patient, Kusum Thapar, 62, a resident of Guruharsahai. She had undergone an unsuccessful surgery seven years back for right hip. Dr Shoubhick Kaushal, orthopaedic surgeon, performed total hip replacement on her by reconstructing the bony cup (acetabulum) which was found deficient. This surgery is the first of its kind in the region, a press release issued by the hospital informed on Friday.

Malout
International conference: The department of Economics, DAV College, Malout, is holding a two-day international conference on ‘India in the emerging order-A potential market for world’ at Prof RK Aggarwal Memorial Hall. Dr YS. Sharma, Dean, HP University will be the chief guest while Dr PS Dhingra of the PU Regional Centre (Muktsar) will be guest of honour. Dr Kulbhushan Chandel of HP University will deliver the keynote address at valedictory function.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Jammu
Govt decision to shift college resented: The state government’s decision to shift proposed Government Degree College from Paloura to the Jhiri area in the Marh block has triggered a controversy, as residents of the Bhalwal block of Jammu have decided to launch a stir against the move. The government had earlier sanctioned the college for the Bhalwal block. The residents of the area have formed a Sangharsh Samiti comprising representatives of all political parties to intensify their struggle against the government decision to shift the college.

Work on Banihal highway to begin in May: Officials of the NHAI, at a meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, said on Friday that the work on the Banihal-Srinagar National Highway project would begin in May. Representatives of the Railways, who were also present at the meeting, informed the Chief Minister that the work to bore a tunnel in Pir Panjal for the Udhampur-Qazigund rail link would be completed by December this year.

Srinagar
PDP to hold rally today: PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed will address a rally of the party in Srinagar on Saturday. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, senior leaders and legislators of the party will also participate in the rally. Meanwhile, the PDP president has called a meeting of the party’s legislators at her residence in Jammu on February 27. The meeting has been called ahead of the forthcoming Budget session of the state Assembly.

DEHRADUN

Kumaon
Dept tightens noose on illegal liquor units:Carrying on with its drive against the manufacturing of illegal liquor, the officials of the Prohibition Department raided three places in Maldhanchaur and Thari villages in the Ramnagar area and confiscated at least 150 litres of illegally manufactured liquor. It is learnt that the liquor had been stored in the tyre tubes of the vehicles. In addition to this, the officials have also confiscated 1,000 litres of spirit used for manufacturing the liquor. While one of the accused, identified as Baljeet Kaur, was nabbed from Thari village, the other accused managed to flee.

Lamgarah women seek closure of liquor vend:Women residents of the Lamgarah area of Almora have demanded closure of a liquor vend in the main market, They have written to the District Magistrate to take immediate action on the request made by them. In the letter written to the DM they have mentioned that women face a lot of problems while going to the market. They are the targets of indecent behaviour by persons in an inebriated state. They have pointed out that despite repeated pleas coming from them, the district administration has not taken any steps to remove the liquor vend. They have threatened to launch an agitation if their demand were not met.

Farmers seek proper compensation for acquired land:The farmers of the Kameridevi-Syankot areas of Bagesh are agitated over the fact that even after eight years of acquisition of their lands by the government for construction of a road, they have not been given the relevant compensation. They have charged that six acres of irrigated land had been taken away for the construction of a 9.5 km stretch of the road. They have pointed out that 2 km stretch of this road was still to be completed. They have threatened to launch an agitation if the work on construction of this 2 km stretch was not started at the earliest and have sought that the compensation due to them be paid at the earliest.

Motorcyclist run over by unidentified vehicle, dies:A motorcyclist was killed when he was run over by an unidentified vehicle near the Bairajhal area of Ramnagar on the night intervening Thursday and Friday. The deceased has been identified as Girish Rana of Maldhan Colony number 6. It is learnt that he was returning home from work. He died while being treated. The identity of the vehicle that ran over the motorcyclist or its owner are yet unknown. The police investigations are on in the matter.

Woman sets herself on fire, dies:A 24-year-old woman died after allegedly immolating herself in Haldwani on Friday. According to the information, Sheetal Arya of Jagmola village had recently returned from Delhi after her medical check up and was staying at her sister’s residence in Mahesh Nagar locality. Just as her sister went out for some work, Sheetal allegedly locked the room from inside and set herself ablaze. It is being alleged that she was mentally disturbed. She is learnt to have died on the spot. (Compiled by Rajeev Khanna)

DEHRADUN
Satpal Maharaj seeks rehabilitation policy for state: Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj has demanded for the announcement of a rehabilitation policy of Uttarakhand. In a press note issued by the MP on Friday, he said he had raised the issue during zero hour of the Lok Sabha session to seek a prompt announcement of rehabilitation policy for Uttarkhand. The MP said Uttarakhand had faced a severe destruction in the recent rain-related disaster. Several people in the state have been facing problems due to a lack of rehabilitation policy, he said, adding that he has also appealed to the Centre to direct the state to work towards ending the ongoing patwaris’ stir.

CM writes to Maya on assimilation of 64 doctors in state: CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has asked UP CM Mayawati to allow assimilation of 64 allopathic doctors in Uttarakhand. These doctors are part of the UP cadre. In a letter written to Mayawati, Nishank said his government had been willing to take 64 allopathic doctors, who are willing to work in Uttarakhand. He said he had also sought clarity on the issue of 23 doctors, who are from UP, and are working in Uttarakhand. Nishank said the assimilation of 64 doctors in Uttarakhand would help
in strengthening of the medical services in the state.