BATALA
Seminar: A seminar on literacy was organised on Monday at Government Senior Secondary School, Fatehgarh Churrian, 30 km from here. Many sarpanches and panches along with government officers participated.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
Black day: Employees' organisations of the district observed a black day, wore black badges and held a dharna in front of Deputy Commissioner's office to support Nav Nayukt Adhyapak Union who are sitting on a fast in Chandigarh.

Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Bharat Vikas Parishad, Bassi Pathana: President — Mr Sushil Singla; Senior Vice-President — Mr Tilak Sharma; Secretary — Mr Ramesh Malhotra; and Treasurer — Mr Pritam Lal.

KAPURTHALA
Dharna: Revenue patwaris here staged a dharna on Monday at the tehsil complex in support of their demands. Mr Balraj Kumar, General Secretary of the local Revenue Patwari Union, said the dharna would continue till March 26.

NAWANSHAHR
Teachers' union: The district unit of the Nav-Niyukt Adhyapak Union and some other unions held a dharna on Monday in front of the office of the District Education Officer. They want the government to reinstate them.

PATIALA
Patwari union: The local Revenue Patwari Union staged a dharna in front of the tehsil office here on Monday to protest against the alleged dilly-dallying tactics of the Punjab Government relating their demands.

Appointed: Ms Kirat Kaur has been appointed block President (Urban), Sanour, of the District Mahila Congress Committee here, according to a press note issued here on Monday.

Honoured: The local Rotary Club honoured Ethopian students while observing the "World Understanding Month". This was stated by the club's Secretary, Ms Meeta Kukreja, here on Monday. Students presented songs and dances of their country.

Association: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local DAV Public School teachers Association: President — Ms Anita Kataria; Vice-President — Ms Gurpreet Thind; General Secretary — Ms Veena Bedi; Joint Secretary — Ms Anita Gupta; and Treasurer — Ms Upinder Virk.

Security sought: The All-India Hindu Mahasangh President, Swami Krishnanand, on Monday appealed to the Himachal Pradesh Government to provide him security on his visit to Naina Devi shrine during Chaitra fair. He also sought proper water supply and sanitation during the fair.

Postponed: The Sector 27A Jat Sabha has postponed its seminar scheduled for April 2 and 3 till further notice. It was announced here on Tuesday. Fresh dates for the seminar would be announced later, Mr R.K. Malik, General Secretary of the sabha, said in a press note.

DERA BASSI
Ram Navami: Mr Kanwaljit Singh, Finanace Minister of Punjab, will be the chief guest at the Ram Navami function to be organised by the Snatan Dharam Sabha, here on Wednesday.

BHIWANI
No clues: The police has failed to get any clue in connection with the murder of a taxi driver, Avtar Singh of Hanuman Dhani. The body of the driver was found on the main circular road on March 2 with multiple deep injuries.

FARIDABAD
Seminar on surgery: Surgeons from all over the country will participate in the National Surgical Update-99 being held here from Wednesday. A spokesman of the International College of Surgeons (Indian section) said here on Monday that the doctors would perform operations at the local Escorts Hospital which would be witnessed by the delegates.

HISAR
Convocation: The convocation of the CR College of Education was held here on Monday. Mr J.P.S. Sangwan, Registrar, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, presided and gave degrees to 400 students.

Bodies found: The bodies of Shanti Devi (60) and her son, Nathu Ram (30), were found in their house at Rakhi Shahpur village under Narnaund police station in the district on Monday. A case under Section 302, IPC, has been registered.

Theft: Tyres were stolen from a shop on the Chandigarh road, Tohana, on Sunday. According to police sources, the thieves broke open the shutter of the shop and took away 30 tyres from the shop. A case under Section 379 of the IPC has been registered.

PANIPAT
Loan scheme: The Haryana Government has lowered the interest rate on loans for self-employment for the rural women of the state. These loans can be paid in easy instalments. This was stated by Mr Apoorav Kumar Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner.

REWARI
Animal slaughter: The Muslim community here on an appeal made by the Jain Samaj here has decided to eschew slaughter of goats and other animals on the occasion of Id on March 29. The birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira also falls on March 29.

Elected: Mr Devender Kumar Jain Saraf has been elected President of the Jain Education Board here at an election held on Sunday.

Remanded: Pawan Kumar Grover, Director of the local Hari Vatika Public School has been remanded in police custody till March 26 by Mr J.S Dahiya, Chief Judicial Magistrate. He was arrested on Friday following a case of cheating registered against him on a complaint made by Mr Nitin Goel and 14 other students of the school.

ROHTAK
Survey: The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) has started an extensive survey to detect pending bills and defaulting meters in the town. According to authorities, some cases of default were found and meters which were not on record were traced.

SIRSA
Stir withdrawn: Members of the Red Flag Brick-Kilns Labour Union of the district withdrew their agitation on Monday which was started by them to protest against the non-acceptance of their demands. Sources claimed that the Brick-Kiln Owners Association had accepted the demands.

Arrested: Babu Ram and Papuram Rajput of Sikanderpur village in the district were arrested in a theft case by the Ding police near Mankher village on Monday. A four-wheeler was recovered from them. A case under Section 379, IPC, has been registered.

Health camp: The local unit of the Indian Medical Association along with Setu, a police-public sahyog samiti, organised a free health check-up camp for the inmates of the local District Jail here on Monday. About 296 jail inmates were examined.

Arrested: Gagandeep Singh of Abubshar village in the district was arrested by the Sadar police, Mandi Dabwali, on Monday. A 12-bore double barrel gun and 25 cartridges were seized from him. A case under Sections 25,54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered.

SONEPAT
March held: Workers affiliated to the CITU-led Forest Department Mazdoor Union held a march here on Monday in support of their demands. They burnt the effigy of the Forest Minister, Mr Jagdish Yadav, and raised anti-government slogans.

Link road: The Himachal Pradesh Minister of State for Cooperatives, Mr Rikhiram Kondal, has stated that the link road from Bhalu to Balaur would be connected with Jhandutta tehsil headquarters. About Rs 2 crore would be spent on the bridge coming up on Seer Khud, he added.

Training: Women who are matriculates and are between 18 to 35 years of age will be given training in handlooms under a scheme by the District Women Welfare Corporation and the Mahila Mandal, Jabli. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ramesh Kapil, said here on Monday that this training would be of four months and each trainee would be given Rs 250 as monthly stipend.

CHAMBA
House tax: The Chamba Citizens Council has expressed resentment against the local Municipal Council's proposal to impose house tax in the town. This was stated by Mr D.N. Pardesi in a press note issued here on Tuesday.

SHIMLA
Tourism: Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal Chief Minister, has ordered that Cafe Bhirav at Baijnath be upgraded by adding more facilities and attractions for the tourists. He also directed the authorities concerned to complete the construction of ongoing tourism projects at the earliest.