Protest: The Food and Supplies Department Ministerial Staff Union (Punjab) will hold a division-level rally and demonstration at Faridkot on August 31. The state president of the union, Mr Rajesh Sachdeva, said the protest was being held against the alleged indifferent attitude of authorities concerned towards the demands of the ministerial employees.

GURDASPUR
Black marketing: The police has arrested Sudhir Kumar, resident of Bawian Lahri in Pathankot subdivision, and Manohar Lal, alias Manohari, a contractor, for their alleged involvement in the sale of government, cement on the black market. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said 180 bags of cement had been recovered. A case has been registered against the suspects.

Gang busted: The police have busted a gang of robbers while its members were planning to loot a petrol station in Pathankot. According to Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, the police had conducted a raid after a tipoff on and arrested Kashmiri Lal, Sandeep Singh, Om Parkash and Bhushan, all residents of Pathankot and seized Rs 10,000 in cash, two pistols, 4 cartridges and one spring knife from them. The district police chief said the gang had stolen the money from a person near Johal Camp in Himachal Pradesh.

HOSHIARPUR
Murdered: Bhupinder Singh Bhinda allegedly killed his father, when the latter refused to give him money for going abroad, at Bhajla village on Saturday night, the police said here on Sunday. Another son of the deceased alleged that his brother had assaulted their father with a datar. The suspect, however, absconded after committing the crime and a case has been registered against him.

JALANDHAR
Road mishap: Three youths were killed when their car collided head-on with a bus near Mander village in Adampur, 20 km from here, on Saturday evening. The driver of the bus, Balbir Singh, has been arrested. The dead have been identified as Rajinder Masih(20), Kamal Jit (19) and Surender Masih(25), all residents of Partiya village.

ROPAR
Three held: The police here has arrested three persons — Sandip Kumar, alias Billa, Varun Kumar, alias Babloo and Teja Singh — on a charge of murdering and looting a wholesale merchant, Mr Roshan Lal of Anandpur Sahib, on July 31 near Bharatgarh village, about 20 km from here. Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP, said the police had also recovered a small sword, used in the murder, and Rs 5000 which had been looted from the deceased from the suspects.

SANGRUR
Sapling plantation: The local Lions Club (Greater) organised a sapling plantation drive at the local Indian Oil Corporation terminal on Monday. According to club sources, as many as 100 saplings of different varieties were planted on the campus.

TARN TARAN
Tributes paid: Tributes were paid to the Panjab Khet Mazdoor Union leader Baldev Singh Dao, on Sunday at a meeting organised here by the local unit of the CPM. The meeting was presided over by Mr Darshan Singh Chabal , former MLA.

Installed: The following have been installed office-bearers of the Rotaract Club of Chandigarh Midtown: President — Ms Punita Singh; Vice-President — Mr Gurmeet Singh; Secretary — Mr Baljeet Singh; Treasurer — Mr Rishab Dev; and Joint Secretary — Ms Monica.

Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Jaidka Khatra sabha: Patrons — Mr R.S. Jaidka and Mr H.S. Jaidka; President — Mr R.P. Jaidka; Vice-President — Mr R.K. Jaidka; General Secretary — Mr J.M. Jaidka; Press Secretary — Mr Vinod Jaidka; Finance Secretary — Mr Rajesh Jaidka; and Joint secretary — Mr Kuldip Jaidka.

Prachar mandal: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Shri Khatu Shyam Prachar Mandal: Chief Patron — Mr Sita Ram Singla; President — Mr Jagdish Aggarwal; Vice-President — Mr Darshan Lal Girdhar; General Secretary — Mr Rakesh Kumar; Secretary — Mr R.S. Parmar; and Publicity Secretary — Mr Girwar Jangid.

Complained: Mr Uday Singh of Tribune Model Gram, Bartana, complained on Sunday that he found some wax-like particles in a tin of desi ghee, which had been purchased from a shop in Bartana. He said these particles were hard to melt or crush.

Demanded: The Panchkula Seva Samiti demanded on Sunday that the condition of roads in different parts of the city be improved. Mr Kapil Chadha said in a press note that the roads were in a deplorable condition and were full of potholes.

Adventure club: The Punjab education Adventure Club met on Sunday under the chairmanship of Mr Sohan Lal, Director, Private Aided Schools. It decided to work for bringing about efficiency in educational standards and to help poor and needy students by providing them with books and other items.

Support: The local unit of the Lok Bhalai Party has decided to support Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, the Congress candidate for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, in the elections. This was announced by Mr Bipanjeet Singh, President of the unit, on Monday.

Veterinary camp: The local chapter of the People for Animals organised a mobile veterinary camp in Sector 36 on Sunday. It was a part of series of camps for providing veterinary aid and guidance to pet owners.

KHARAR
Electricity supply: The supply of electricity to Kharar, especially Main Bazar and Upper Bazar, will remain suspended from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday. This will be due to some urgent repair work.

PANCHKULA
Executive committee: The following have been elected to the executive committee of the HMT Karmik Sangh: President — Mr A.K. Rana; Vice-Presidents — Mr S.B. Dahiya and Mr Gurdass; General Secretaries — Mr G.D. Sandhu and Mr N.S. Pahalwan; Secretary — Mr Prem Chand Sharma; Joint Secretary — Mr Prem Chand; and Cashier — Mr Raj Kumar Dhull.

ZIRAKPUR
Meeting: Mr Mal Singh Ghuman, Chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board, and Mr Gurpreet Singh Mandiali, an Akali leader from Dakha circle, held a meeting with the office-bearers of the newly-formed Maha Panchayat on Monday. According to Mr Jaswant Singh, President of the Maha panchayat, the office-bearers will meet on Wednesday to decide on which political party to support in the elections.

SIRSA
Blood donation: As many as 190 units of blood were donated at a blood donation camp organised by the Sant Nirankari Mission, Mandi Dabwali branch on Sunday. The camp was inaugurated by Mr Harbilas Nirankari, president of the Kaccha Arhtiya Association.

Blood group testing: The local Leo Club, organised a free blood group testing camp in collaboration with the district Red Cross Society here on Sunday. Mr Suresh Pahuja, District President of the club, said blood group of 500 persons were tested at the camp and blood group cards were also given to them free of cost.

Vanamahotsava: Vanamahotsava was celebrated by the local Rotary Club at Ganda Indoor Stadium at CMK Girls college here on Sunday. The function was presided over by Mr Jagdish Chopra, advocate and chairman of the consumer Grievances Redressal Forum, Jind.

Bharat Vikas Parishad: The local unit of the Bharat Vikas Parishad organised a function at Yuvak Sahitya here on Sunday. Mr Kasturi Lal Chabra, vice-president of the parishad said artificial limbs and calipers were distributed free of cost among 32 poor and needy on the occasion.

Suicide: Raghuvir Singh (23), resident of Rajiv Colony, Ludhiana, committed suicide by hanging himself with a tree at park in the local bus stand here on Sunday. The body was identified from an identity card found by the police.

SONEPAT
Attacked: The sadar police has arrested a youth, Jagbir, alias Setha, of Jahri village in connection with the alleged assault on Sukhbir, another youth of the same village on July 29 last. The police is looking for Beera, who is also involved in the case. The suspects had allegedly fired shots at Sukhbir and had escaped after injuring him.

Resentment: Resentment prevails among the residents of Qumashpur village against the non-supply of drinking water by the Public Health Department for the past four months. Many residents alleged that the officials of the department had failed to carry out repairs of the machinery of the waterworks, which had been out of order for about four months. The residents have threatened to launch an agitation if the water supply was not restored immediately.

Arrested: Biloo, a resident of Jhangola village (Delhi), was arrested by the Rai police, near Kundli village, about 25 km from here, on Sunday for possessing 20 bottles of illicit liquor. According to the police, the youth was trying to smuggle the liquor into Haryana. A case under the Excise Act has been registered against him.

Killed: Ajay, a 22-year-old youth, was killed when he was hit by a train, while he was crossing the railway tracks near the level crossing here on Monday.

Accidents: Ram Niwas, a resident of Khewra village, was hit by a vehicle and killed on the GT Road near Bahalgarh chowk, about 10 km from here, on Monday. The Rai police has registered a case. In another accident on Monday, Monu (10) was injured seriously when he was hit by a jeep on the GT Road near Biswan Meel Chowk, about 15 km from here. The injured boy was immediately rushed to the local Civil Hospital, where he is stated to be out of danger.

Body found: The police found a decomposed body of a young woman from a canal near Bhainswal Kalan village, about 20 km from here, on Sunday. The body could not be identified and the police believe it to be a case of rape and murder.

Medical camp: The local unit of the Sant Nirankari Mandal will organise a one-day free medical treatment camp on the campus of Nirankari Satsang Bhavan here on August 29.

SUNDERNAGAR
Contribution: The staff and students of St Mary's High School have contributed a sum of Rs 25,600 for the welfare of kin of Kargil heroes. A draft for the amount has been sent to the Army Headquarters, New Delhi, by the Principal of the school.