R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
Music programme: Artistes of the Rajasthani Magneer Group, currently touring Punjab, presented a Rajasthani folk music programme at Guru Nanak Dev University on Friday in collaboration with SPICMACAY. Dr H.S Soch, Vice-Chancellor of the university, inaugurated the programme. Dr Swaranjit Singh, Visconsin University, Milwaukee (USA), was the chief guest.

HOSHIARPUR
Public hearings: The Punjab Pollution Control Board held public hearings on environment regarding the Kandi canal stage II at PWD Rest House, Garhshankar on Saturday. The Chairman Punjab Pollution Control Board, Special Secretaries, Irrigation and Environment, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr districts were among others who were present.

Workshop: A workshop on margin money scheme of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission was organised at the District Industries Centre here on Friday. The scheme was launched to encourage the rural unemployed youth to start earning their livelihood.

LUDHIANA
Donated: The State Bank of India (SBI), Chandigarh circle, on Saturday donated an X-ray machine to Guru Angad Dev Charitable Hospital. A free medical check-up camp was also organised. The chief guest, Mr Prabhakar Sharma, Chief General Manger of the SBI, donated an ambulance to the hospital.

Cheating case: Phool Chand Sharma was arrested for allegedly cheating people by exchanging their silver anklets with gilt ones. A case under Section 420, IPC, has been registered. The people has recovered 19,585 kg of silver and gilt from him.

MOGA
Inquiry ordered: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kanwalbir Singh Sidhu, here has ordered an inquiry against certain officials of the Revenue Department posted at Baghapurana town for allegedly tempering with the record regarding a deed belonging to Lachhman Singh and Gurbachan Singh Brar of Bhekha village. According to reports, both brothers had complained that they were forced by the revenue officials to sign on blank papers.

NAWANSHAHR
Suicide: A medical practitioner, Bhim Sain, of Bhanmajara village committed suicide by allegedly consuming poison on Friday. Mr Ramesh Kumar Bali, general secretary of the state unit of the Medical Practitioners Association said here on Saturday that the dilly-dallying attitude of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, towards the demands of the medical practitioners was responsible for it.

Cultural programme: The local branch of Punjab and Sind Bank organised a cultural programme here at JSFH Khalsa High School on Saturday. Jathedar Resham Singh Thiara presided.

PATHANKOT
Corruption drive: The Chief Engineer, Ranjit Sagar Dam, has launched a drive to remove corruption from the dam office by disallowing bulk purchases through the local purchase applications. Instead of the local purchase application system the personal requisition system to make bulk purchases has been introduced.

Dharna: Zila Banao Sangharsh Samiti on Saturday organised a dharna at the court complex in support of their demand regarding the upgrading of the Pathankot subdivision to the district status. Members of different political groups and representatives of the local Bar association participated.

Bail plea accepted: Mr M.S. Rattu, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur, accepted the bail plea of Anil Kumar of Kachey Quarters here in a case registered under Sections 302, 324, 323, 148 and 149, IPC. The accused had surrendered on January 24. The case was registered on the complaint of Suraj Gupta in an assault case.

PATIALA
Free eye check-up camp: The Punjab Paramedical Staff Association, Punjab State Electricity Board, will organise a free eye check-up camp at Allopathic Dispensary Head Office on February 1 to mark the Foundation Day celebrations of the board. Mr Avinash Gupta, General Secretary of the association, said Dr Sukhdip Singh Boparai, an eye surgeon and contact lens specialist, and a team of doctors had consented to participate in the camp. The board has also issued a circular to all its employees, informing them about the camp.

PHAGWARA
Refund ordered: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Kapurthala, had directed Patiala Carriers, Old Sabji Mandi, Delhi, to refund Rs 1,29,986 at the rate of 18 per cent per annum from June 18, 1999, till the date of payment to M/s Choice Agro Ltd, Kapurthala. A compensation of Rs 10, 000 to the latter for causing it financial loss, mental tension and harassment had also been ordered.

TARN TARAN
Stone laid: Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur, member of Parliament, on Saturday laid down the foundation stone of a physics laboratory at the local SGAD Khalsa Senior Secondary School at a function organised here which was presided over by Mr Dilbag Singh Dalake, former Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Mr Tur released a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the school.

Seminar: The local welfare society on Saturday organised a seminar to make the people aware of drug abuse. Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur, MP, presided. Dr Rattan Singh, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Punjab, was the chief guest.

CHANDIGARH

Bhajan programme in jail: Members of the local unit of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation held sarvdharam bhajans at Burail Jail on Sunday. Nearly 150 jail inmates and staff attended the programme. According to Mr R.S. Prasad, State Coordinator (Chandigarh Zone), the idea was to inoculate the value of spiritualism in these people. He further disclosed that they planned to hold such bhajans at least four times in a year at this place. Prasad was also distributed.

Quiz contest postponed: DAV College has postponed the inter-senior secondary physics quiz contest, which was to be held on February 1, in view of the death of Mr T.R. Tuli, President of the DAV College Managing Committee. The college is organising the quiz in collaboration with the Indian Association of Physics. The function will now be held on February 3 at the same venue.

Workshop on electron microscopy: The 11th national workshop on electron microscopy will be held at Panjab University from January 31 to February 5. It is being organised by the Regional Sophisticated Instrumentation Centre and the University Science Instrumentation Centre. The workshop will deliberate on state-of-the-art electron microscopy and its applications in chemical, pharmaceutical, biological and medical sciences.

HARYANA

FARIDABAD
Attack: Certain persons stated to be members of the "kachha-banian gang" of criminals beat up members of the family of Prakash at Bhopani village and decamped with cash and valuables. They were also carrying arms.

REWARI
Voters' cards: As many as 3,46,786 voters of the three Assembly segments of the district have been issued identity cards. This was stated by the Returning Officer, Mrs Sunita Mishra Singh.

Cases settled: Four of the 10 cases regarding matrimonial discord were amicably resolved by the Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Sumita Mishra Singh, at the Red Cross Bhavan here on Friday.

SONEPAT
Demonstration: HUDA employees held a demonstration in front of its local office on Sunday in support of their demands. A dharna was also held. The union leaders warned that if their demands were not accepted by Monday they would gherao the office.

Elected: Mr Anand Dahiya was unanimously elected president of the Haryana Ministerial Staff Association at a meeting held here on Saturday.

Assault: Satbir Singh sustained injuries when he was allegedly attacked by certain youths in Vikas Nagar area here on Saturday. He is stated to be in a serious condition. A case has been registered.

Eye operation camp: The Health Department will organise a five-day free eye operation camp from January 31 at Ganaur, a subdivisional town of the district.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KANGRA
Condolence meeting: Staff and students of MCM DAV College here today held a condolence meeting on the college premises to mourn the death of T.R. Tuli, president of the DAV college management committee, New Delhi. He had died on Friday.

KULU
Lok Adalat: A Lok Adalat was held at Manali on Saturday which was presided over by Mr P.S. Samyal, judicial magistrate. Eleven of the 18 cases were disposed of on the spot.

KUMARHATTI
Body found: The body of a man was found in a water tank on Saturday at Kambli village, 21 km from here. According to the police, a pump operator, who had gone to open the water supply, found the body. The deceased has been identified as Kaman Singh, a migrant labourer.

Liquor seized: The Parwanoo police seized 24 bottles of English wine and 50 pouches of country-made liquor from Narinder Singh of Patiala on Friday while he was travelling in a Haryana Roadways bus. According to information, the bottles and pouches were hidden in a suitcase and a bag. A case under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act has been registered.

PALAMPUR
Amendment sought: A deputation of the Himachal Pradesh Junior Engineers Association called on the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, on Sunday in connection with their demands. It urged him to get the minimum qualification for the admission to diploma engineers' courses amended to plus 2.

Arrested: The local police arrested Sanjay Kumar on Sunday, who had committed a burglary in a temple at Panchrukhi three months ago, and recovered the stolen goods. This was stated by Mr Virender Kumar, DSP, here.