R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
Cheques distributed: More than 100 complaints were disposed of at a sangat darshan programme held at Sathiala village in the Baba Bakala subdivision of the district on Saturday which was presided over by an Akali MLA, Mr Manmohan Singh Sathiala, and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh. The Deputy Commissioner distributed cheques for Rs 5,100 each to 35 beneficiaries under the 'shagan' scheme. He inaugurated a new building of a first-aid post named after Guru Tegh Bahadur near Gaggar Bhana village on the Baba Bakala-Chowk Mehta road. He announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the equipment and medicines.

BATALA
Prizes distributed: The annual prize distribution function of the local R.R. Bawa DAV College for Girls was held on Saturday on the college campus. Mr M.L. Khanna, general secretary, DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, was the chief guest. He gave away the prizes to the outstanding students.

FAZILKA
Youth killed: A youth was killed and three others injured in a road mishap on Saturday night near Beganwali village, 6 km from here. Mr Krishan Lal Arora, secretary, Radhaswami Satsang, Sriganganagar branch, along with his two son-in-laws, Mr Surinder Kumar (34) and Mr Sandeep Sachdeva (31) and Ajay Bhateja (19), all residents of Sriganganagar, were going to Beas in a car. The car developed a snag and skidded resulting in the death of Ajay.

GURDASPUR
Free legal aid: The District and Sessions Judge, Mr Gurdev Singh, in a press note issued here on Saturday, said 17 beneficiaries had been covered under the free legal council. He said a seminar would be organised every month in rural areas to apprise people of free legal aid.

LUDHIANA
Woman found dead: A woman was found hanging from the hook of a fan in her house in the Field Ganj area on Saturday. The deceased, Amanpreet Kaur, was married and had two children.

Ladies club: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Niharika Ladies Club: Chairperson — Mrs Daljit Kochar; vice-president — Mrs Charneet Thukral; Secretary — Mrs Ravinder Kaur; and treasurer — Mrs Raji Jaggi.

MALERKOTLA
Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Bar Clerk Association: president — Mr Ranjodh Singh; vice-president — Mr Anil Sharma; general secretary — Mohd Blal; and secretary — Mohd Shabbir.

NAWANSHAHR
Voters thanked: The Health Minister, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, along with SAD-BJP-BSM workers on Saturday went through the main markets of the town to thank people for voting in favour of Mr Jatinder Singh Kariha. He lauded the role of the workers for ensuring the victory.

PATIALA
Inquiry ordered: The Deputy Commissioner has directed the SDM, Nabha, to inquire into allegations levelled by residents belonging to the Scheduled Caste of Galwatti village in the district about their 27-year wait for the allotted 100-yard plots. The villagers have alleged that they have not got the plots as the patwari has not demarcated the land.

Warm send-off: Dr Ranbir Singh, a former Registrar of Punjabi University, was accorded a warm send-off by the faculty and non-teaching employees of the university on his retirement at the university's faculty club here on Friday. Teachers lauded his contribution towards the development of the university during his seven-year stint.

SANGRUR
New postal branch: A new postal branch has been opened in the office premises of the Deputy Commissioner here. Mr Anirudh Tewari, Deputy Commissioner, inaugurated the branch at a simple function held here on Saturday.

Annual function: The annual prize distribution function of the local Akal College for Women was organised in the college premises on Saturday. Mr Anirudh Tewari, Deputy Commissioner, presided over the function, while the wife, Mrs Tuhina Tewari, gave away the prizes to students. Ms Harjit Kaur, Principal, read the annual report. The Deputy Commissioner announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the college.

PHAGWARA
Rs 567 cr for roads: The Punjab Government would spend Rs 567 crore on the construction and repair of roads till the middle of this year, according to the Punjab Tourism Minister, Mr Swarna Ram. This was stated by the minister on Saturday while laying the foundation stone of the Guru Nanak Nagar-Subzimandi road.

Villagers alerted: A PSEB party, led by Mr Ajit Singh, Xen, Phagwara Division, raided a village, near here, on Friday and detected 14 cases of power theft. However, someone alerted villagers by announcing through a loudspeaker of a religious place about the approaching raiding party. The code used for the alert was "watan ki aabru khatrey mein hai, hoshiar ho jao".

SAMRALA
4 injured: Mr S.K. Mukherjee, Mr Karanvir Singh, Mr Mangal Singh and Mr Bashambar Dass were seriously injured on Friday near Katani Kalan, 13 km from here, when their jeep rammed into a tree.

Poppy husk seized: As many as 72 kg poppy husk was seized from Harpreet Singh of Boothgarh, 15 km from here, by the CIA staff on Saturday, according to the SSP, Khanna, Mr R.L. Bhagat. The accused has been arrested.

Clothes distributed: Warm clothes were distributed to 72 poor students at Govt High School, Panj Grayan, on Saturday by Mr Kirpal Singh Ghamana, an Akali leader, according to the Principal of the school.

CHANDIGARH

Sampat akhand path: Sampat akhand path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib will start at the Sector 28 Nanaksar Gurdwara on Monday. Baba Sadhu Singh of Nanaksar Kaleranwale along with his raghis and others would be present during the akhand path which would continue until March 5. After the bhog ceremony, a kirtan darbar featuring eminent raghis will be held. Langar will also be organised after the bhog ceremony.

Residents’ association: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Modern Housing Complex (Duplex) Residents Welfare Association, Mani Majra: President — Mr K.L. Aggarwal; Vice-president — Mr Narinder Manral; secretary — Mr R.S. Dhiman; joint secretary — Mr Darshan Singh; and treasurer — Mr Ravi Khanna.

Medical check-up: The Citizens Association for Relief and Education Service (CARES) of Chandigarh organised a free medical camp at Kalibari for the poor children of slum areas on the occasion of the annual function of CARES-run free school. Free dental check-up and treatment were provided by Brig Kamaljit Singh (retd) and a team from the BRS Dental College and Hospital, Kot Billa, Panchkula. While Dr Rajinder Kumar Kaphalia did the eye check-up, Col R.K. Dutta and Mrs Ritu Anand did the general medical check-up.

Eye patients examined: A free eye check-up and operation camp was organised by the Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission at Kirpal Ashram, Sector 24, here on Sunday. More than 1,400 patients were examined, of which 105 were identified for operations. Besides local patients, people from Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala came for the camp. Patients will be discharged after the operations on February 29 and examined one week later.

SAS NAGAR

Eletricity cess: The Mohali Industries Association (MIA) has opposed the move by the Punjab State Electricity Board to impose a cess of Rs 1.50 per unit on the electricity generated by industrialists through their own generating sets. At an emergency meeting of the association its members said that due to the erratic supply of power by the board the entrepreneurs were compelled to install their generators. The association demanded withdrawal of the decision to impose the cess.

School branch: A primary branch of Ajit Karam Singh International Public School was inaugurated by the Superintendent of Police (Security), Punjab, Mr Surinder Singh, in Phase V here on Sunday. The school, with all modern equipment to impart quality education to children, would run classes from pre-nursery to third standard. The Director, Programme, Ajit Karam Singh International Public School, Dr Satya Bhalla, said the students would also be imparted the basic learning with the help of computers. Later students of the Chandigarh branch of the school recited shabad kirtan.

Dosanjh’s election: The Indian Ex-Services League of Punjab and Chandigarh has hailed the election of Mr Ujjal Dosanjh as Premier of British Columbia. Col Angad Singh ( retd) said Mr Dosanjh had brought great laurels to the Punjabi community.

TV viewing: The parents should restrict the television viewing hours of their children and select only those channels which could benefit their wards. Mr H.S. Midha, Director of local Gem Public School, said this at the annual prize distribution function of the school here on Saturday.

HARYANA

KARNAL
Milk production: Dr B.N. Mathur, Director, NDRI, said on Saturday that milk production in the country would be tripled by the year 2010. Dr Mathur was addressing the delegates of a national seminar on "Quality assurance in dairy industry" here.

SIRSA
Gambler held: The police has arrested a proclaimed gambler, Ashwani Kumar of Kalanwali in the district, under the Gambling Act. He had earlier being arrested thrice but was released on bail.

SONEPAT
3 arrested: The Kharkhauda police arrested three persons of Sisana village for allegedly being found in possession of 264 bottles of English wine on Saturday. They are Ram Parkash, Sandeep, alias Raju and Ram Niwas. A case under the Excise Act has been registered.

Youth injured: A youth, Mukesh Kumar of Rewli village, was seriously injured when he was hit by a Maruti car on the Sonepat-Murthal road near CR State College of Engineering, about 6 km from here, on Saturday. Mr Dharampal, SDM, who was passing by, took Mukesh in his vehicle to the local Civil Hospital.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
Action sought: The Himachal Pradesh State Education Department Class IV Employees Association has condemned the alleged rape of a Class IV employee of the department in Hamirpur on Thursday and urged the Chief Minister to take strict action against the guilty.The president of the association, Mr Amar Singh Chandel, has urged the Education Minister to pass orders not to put female "chowkidars" on night duty.

DHARAMSALA
Youth commits suicide: Ram Lal, 25, of Kharet village near Budoh, committed suicide by hanging himself on Saturday. The police said he was a truck driver and took the extreme step after having an argument with his brother.

SHIMLA
Office-bearers: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Telecommunication Engineering Services Association: president -- Mr G.S. Negi; vice-president — Mr P.N. Sharma; secretary — Mr M.L. Sharma; assistant secretary — Mr A.K. Sharma; and treasurer — Mr Ajit Ram.

Liquor shop: The Beopar Mandal of Sanjauli, near here, has opposed the move to open a liquor shop in the area. Mr Shivender Batish, president of the mandal, said people of the area were also against the move. He said in view of various education institutions in the area, the government should not allow any liquor shop in Sanjauli.

Pornographic cassettes: Following a tip-off, a police party, headed by ASI Chaman Lal of the Barotiwala police station, raided a video parlour at Baddi and seized two pornographic cassettes, one of which was being screened at the time of the raid on Friday. Lochan Prasad Yadav and Ram Kumar Chauhan have been arrested in this connection. Meanwhile, the Parwanoo police seized 1.430 kg of charas from Hem Raj, who was roaming at Parwanoo under suspicious circumstances.

NURPUR
Inaugurated: The Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Minister, Mr Roop Dass Kashyap, inaugurated the new office of the local municipal council here on Saturday. He said the Union Minister for Urban Development had approved Rs 7 crore for a new sanitation plan for the urban areas of the state. He also distributed sewing machines to 22 poor girls, who had been imparted sewing training by the municipal council.