R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
SGPC to present budget today: The SGPC will hold the budget session for fiscal 2011-2012 in Teja Singh Samundri Hall in the Golden Temple complex tomorrow.

Bathinda
Safe Holi: Kids at the International Montessori Pre-school learned to play safe Holi and had a day filled with fun, colours and enjoyment.

Moga
PNB dedicates ATM to martyrs: To pay its tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev,the Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Wednesday opened its ATM at the bus stand Chowk, Moga and dedicated it to the sacred martyrdom of these young freedom fighters. The ATM was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner of Moga Dr Vijay N. Zaide.

CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh
Elected: The following have been elected as office-bearers of the Sector 43-B (Independent Houses) Residents Welfare Association: president - JC Bajaj; secretary - KK Gupta; vice-president - Bhagwan Dass; finance secretary - DS Mehta; and joint secretary -Athar Hasan.

HARYANA

SIRSA
Model schools: Under a Central scheme to set up English medium model senior secondary schools in educationally backward blocks of the country, six blocks of Sirsa have been identified. The government has identified Baragura, Dabwali, Ellenabad, Nathusari Chopta, Rania and Odhan administrative blocks of the district for this purpose. DC Yudhbir Singh Khyalia said the schools would be set up at Jheeri in Baragura, Kaluana in Dabwali, Meethi Surera in Ellenabad, Nathusari Kalan in Nathusari Chopta, Ahmedpuria in Rania and Jalalana in Odhan blocks.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Shimla
High Court Day on March 26: The HP High Court will celebrate March 26 as High Court Day and valedictory function of its year-long ruby jubilee celebrations in commemoration of 40 years of its journey in the state. The valedictory function will be held at the HP University auditorium. Governor Urmila Singh will be the chief guest on the occasion. A souvenir on the ruby jubilee of the High Court will also be released on that day.

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Jammu
Woman dies of burn injuries: A woman who received burn injuries in Rambal area of Udhampur district died on Tuesday afternoon at the Government Medical College and Hospital. According to reports, Sharo Devi (50) was brought to the hospital on March 18. She received burn injuries when the cooking gas in her kitchen leaked accidently and caught fire. Her body has been handed over to her family.

Punjab student hurt in mishap: A student from Punjab was injured when the car he was travelling in collided with a tipper coming from the opposite direction on the national highway in the Vijaypur area on Tuesday. Reports said Gulshan Kumar (22), a resident of Amritsar, was on his way to Jammu to appear in the annual examination when the accident took place. He was taken to the Government Hospital, Vijaypur, from where he was referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital here.

Power Grid's Jammu office honoured: The Official Languages Department in the Union Home Ministry has conferred the first prize upon the Power Grid's regional office in Jammu in "C" region of the enterprise category for the year 2009-10 for outstanding implementation of the official language policy and for encouraging working in official language. The award consisted of a shield and a certificate and was conferred in the auditorium of the Himachal Pradesh University at Shimla the other day, stated an official release issued here on Wednesday.

Srinagar
Wanted Hizbul  militant arrested: A wanted Hizbul Mujahideen militant Mudassir Nazir Lone was arrested from the Batamaloo area here on Wednesday. “Lone, wanted in several cases, was arrested from the Batamaloo bus stand by the sleuths of the Special Operations Groups of the state police,” a police source said. The militant was also an accused in the killing of a contractor, Nazir Ahmed Lone, in the Kreeri area of Baramulla district. Last week, the police had arrested five militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen in connection with attempting to revive the group in the area. It said Nazir Ahmed was murdered over business rivalry by militants who were paid for the act by another contractor.

DEHRADUN

ALMORA
Almora gears up for Vice-President’s visit: Keeping in view the visit of Vice-President of India Dr Hamid Ansari to the town on March 26, the district administration has increased the speed of preparations. “The Vice-President will deliver the 2nd BD Pandey Memorial lecture at the Uttarakhand Sewa Nidhi Complex in Jakhan Devi. The programme will be chaired by Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva,” said DS Garbyal, District Magistrate, Almora.

FIR filed in Santosh Joshi death case: The police filed an FIR in the local police station against four persons in the Santosh Joshi death case after local people agitated in front of the Almora police station with the body of the deceased demanding a fair probe. “Santosh Joshi, a 45-year-old painter, was mercilessly beaten to death allegedly by four youths on March 20, when he tried to pacify the youths involved in a scuffle,” said Kamal Ram Arya, in-charge of the Almora police station.

BAGESHWAR
Admn apathy forces  villagers to go on fast: Demanding compensation for the eight houses damaged five years ago and highlighting other basic infrastructural problems of the villages in the district, villagers led by a 72-year-old veteran, have started a hunger strike near the district headquarters. “Our primary school wall has not been erected since 2006 and the track routes and electric poles damaged during natural disasters have not been replaced for the past six years. We want the work to be done immediately and will not end our hunger strike till our demands are met,” said Gusain Singh, organiser of the agitation.

PITTHORAGARH
Rafting training of 32  rural youths begins: The rafting training for 32 rural youths sponsored by the District Youth Welfare Department of the state began on Wednesday in the challenging rapids of the Mahakali river. “The youths will be provided paddling training in the first stage and then will be selected for the 24-km river run between Jauljibi and Jhoolaghat,” said Rajendra Singh Airy, District Adventure Sports Officer.

TANAKPUR
Overloaded truck overturns, two killed: Two labourers died and nine others were injured when a truck carrying timber overturned on the Tanakpur-Champawat highway on Wednesday morning. “The truck overturned as the driver could not control it due to overloading, killing two persons, including a Nepalese citizen,” said a police official.

(Compiled by BD Kasniyal)

DEHRADUN
Nishank extends greetings for Jhanda Mela: Extending his greetings to people on the occasion of Jhanda Mela on Thursday, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said the fair had become a symbol of brotherhood and amity. Welcoming the devotees who have begun congregating in Dehradun, the Chief Minister said that every effort would be made to ensure that they have a comfortable stay.

Ranbir’s friends appear in CBI court: The friends of Ranbir, who was allegedly shot dead by cops, appeared before a CBI court in Dehradun on Wednesday. All of his friends, except Shekher Tyagi, appeared in the court. Now the CBI has set the next hearing for May 3. Tyagi is said to have missed the hearing due to some unavoidable circumstances.

Man loses legs in train mishap: A 41-year-old employee of the Survey of India lost both his legs when they came under a moving train between the Defence Colony and the Badari Colony late Wednesday evening. Rajender Pal, a resident of Rajiv Nagar Danda, was taken away by 108 Emergency in a critical condition to a local hospital.

Man’s wallet stolen: A man stole a purse containing cash Rs 6,000 and other important things at Rajpur Road on Wednesday. It belonged to a resident of Park Road, Lakshman Chowk. Nitin Singhal lodged a compliant with the Kotwai police. A case has been registered.