R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BATHINDA
Appointed: Mr Bhupinder Sharma, Senior Vice-President of the district unit of the Janata Dal (United), has been made the state Vice-President, according to Mr Jagir Singh Ganesh, state President, JD(U).

DHURI
Rice milling: Rice milling has been severely affected in the region due to the shortage of storage space with the FCI. In a press note, Mr Bhim Sain Singla, president of the local Rice Millers’ Association, has demanded immediate movement of rice stock from the local godowns.

FARIDKOT
Cotton production: The Punjab Government has launched a special programme to enhance the production of cotton this year in the state. Over 16,000 quintals of seeds would be provided to farmers on a subsidy of Rs 14 crore. Dr Kundan Lal, Joint Director, High Yielding Varieties Programme, Punjab, said this while addressing a district-level farmers' training camp here on Wednesday. He said 75 per cent of the subsidy amount would be paid by the Union Government.

FEROZEPORE
Dharna called off: Members of the local Cantonment Board Pensioners Association called of their six-day dharna on Wednesday on a written assurance of the Cantonment Executive Officer(CEO), Mr N.Srinivas Reddy, that funds were received from any quarter, arrears would be paid to pensioners by March 31.

Training camp: The Agriculture Department organised a district-level farmers' training camp and a seminar on oil seeds and pulses at Town Hall here on Wednesday. The Deputy commissioner, Mr Kuldip Singh Sidhu, was also present. Farm experts from Punjab Agricultural University apprised the farmers of various new techniques. In his address, Mr Sidhu assured the farmers that canal water would be regularly supplied from April 15 to May 15 for the plantation of crops.

Rs 5.20 cr released: At a meeting of the District Planning and Development Board held here on Tuesday under the presidentship of the state Rural Development and Panchayat Minister, Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Rs 5.20 crore was released for various development projects in the district. The minister also presided over a meeting of the District Roads Committee and the District Grievances Redressal Committee.

GARHSHANKAR
Arrested: The police in Mahilpur village of Garshankar tehsil has arrested two travel agents — Bhupinder Singh and Mohan Singh of Sarhala Kalan village, who were at large after being granted bail in a number of cases registered against them. They have been produced in the court by the police.

Annual function: The Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Sohan Singh, gave away prizes to outstanding students in sports and academics at the annual prize distribution function of Government Senior Secondary School, Mahilpur.

Free medical camp: Universal Medical College and Charitable Hospital, Garhshankar, will organise as free medical camp at Gangon village on March 5 and 6.

Leader’s ouster sought: Congress leaders of Garhshankar at a meeting held at Dana Mandi have urged the high command to expel Ms Santosh Chaudhry from the party for her role against the Congress candidate for the Nawanshahr byelection.

Life term: An accused, Parmeshar Singh of Mahilpur village, has been awarded life imprisonment for murdering Shamsher Singh of the same village by a court.

GURDASPUR
Fake licences: The police on Tuesday arrested Natti Mal of Onkar Nagar, here, for his involvement in issuing fake driving licences and passports. According to Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, he had charged Rs 350 from Narutam Singh of Pathankot for issuing a driving licence. Office stamps of DTO, Gurdaspur, and DTO, Amritsar, were seized from him.

Gang busted: With the arrest of five persons, the police claims to have busted a gang of dacoits, who during interrogation confessed having planned a dacoity in Punjab and Sind Bank, Dalhousie Road, Pathankot. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said here on Thursday that they were Sunil Kumar, Hind Raj, Raj Kumar, Kishori Lal and Joginderpal. Stolen property, including a colour TV and a tape recorder, were recovered from them. Some arms were also seized.

KAPURTHALA
Drama competition: The Eastern Railway bagged the first position in the inter-Railway drama competition which concluded at the Rail Coach factory here on Tuesday night. The South-Eastern Railway and the Western Railway won the second and third position, respectively. The drama, which got the first position, was based on the Kashmir problem. Inderjit Singh Rupowalia of the Rail Coach factory got the best director’s award for the drama ‘‘Tera Nahin, Mera Nahin, Hamara Hai’’.

LUDHIANA
Research projects: The biotechnology centre of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, has been assigned two research projects by the Indo-Swiss Cooperative Society and Development Agency of the USA. The projects, aimed at developing biotechnological techniques to control diseases in wheat’’, have been allotted to Dr Harcharan Singh Dhaliwal, and Dr Harjit Singh, senior scientist in the Biotechnology Department.

Nominated: The following have been nominated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Goel, as members of the Pension and Pensioners Welfare Department for a period of two years: Mr Harzoor Singh, Mr B.R. Kaushal, Mr Sardool Singh and Mr Mohinder Singh Duggal.

MOGA
Six arrested: Six persons of the town were arrested on Wednesday in connection with a firing incident in which a middle-aged woman, Poonam, and her daughter were injured recently. The police said they were being interrogated.

PATHANKOT
Damages: Mr Kuldeep Kumar Kareer, Additional Civil Judge, Pathankot, has directed M/S Raj Sales Corporation to pay Rs 1.5 lakh as damages to Mr Munish Kumar, a local resident, for injuries caused to him in an explosion caused due to the supply of a defective gas cylinder in which Baljit Kumar died on the spot. Mr Munish Kumar had filed a civil suit against the defenders for compensation.

PHAGWARA
Dharna staged: Industrial workers, a majority of them of the local JCT Mill, on Tuesday staged a dharna at ESI Hospital in protest against ‘‘scarcity of medicines, inordinate delay in reimbursement of their medical bills, insanitary conditions and discontinuation of food to patients. They also held a rally and presented a memorandum to the Deputy Magistrate, Mr Hardeep Singh Dhaliwal.

‘Faulty’ drainage: Residents of the local Bhagatpura on Tuesday blocked traffic on the GT Road in protest against the ‘faulty’ drainage in their mohalla. According to a press note issued by Mr Sham Sunder Bhanot, convener, Bhanoki Bhagatpura Road Market Action committee, protesters staged a rally outside the office of the local municipal council and raised slogans against the authorities.

ROPAR
Rs 4.68 cr released: The District Planning and Development Board has released Rs 4.68 crore to various departments at its meeting held under the presidentship of Dr Upinderjit Kaur, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Punjab, and chairperson of the board, here on Tuesday. A sum of Rs 1.82 crore has been released to the district Social Security Office for disbursing pensions, Rs 1.08 crore to the seven municipal councils of the district and Rs 1.32 crore for rural water supply schemes.

CHANDIGARH

Levy sugar: The Chandigarh Administration has revised the rate of levy sugar from Rs 12 a kg to Rs 13 a kg with immediate effect in the wake of the decision taken by the Central Government, it was officially stated here on Thursday.

Beopar Mandal: A delegation of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal will call on the Mayor of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to demand withdrawal of proposed municipal surcharge. A press note of the Mandal said it had already been demanding the withdrawal of surcharge on the sales tax.

Shivratri celebrations: Maha Shivratri celebrations will be held in Maa Siddeshhwari, Mahakaleshwar Mandir, Ambala Road, Shahzadpur, on March 4. The founder of the Ashram Sidh Yogi Bachan Nath Bachan said here that the celebration is being held for world peace. Mr Pawan Dewan, MLA, Naraingarh, will be chief guest.

Photography exhibition: The Friends of Photography, a group of photo artists of the region, is holding a show of photographs at Punjab Kala Bhavan from March 4 to 7. Mr P.S. Aujla, Director, Public Relations, Punjab, will inaugurate the show at 3 p.m.

All-women market demanded: Members of the Istri Samajak Sudhar Sabha have urged the Chandigarh Administration to set up an all-women’s market at Dhanas as promised by the Administrator, Lieut-Gen Jacob (retd), and the Adviser to the Administrator, Mrs Vineeta Rai, when a deputation of the Sabha met them sometime ago.

Peer Colony body: Mr Gurbachan Singh and Mr Tarlochan Singh were elected Adviser and Chairman of the Peer Colony Social Welfare Committee at a meeting held on Wednesday. Other officer-bearers are: president — Mr Darshan Garg; vice-presidents — Mr Nachattar Singh and Ms Radha Rani; general secretaries — Mr Gurmeet Singh, Ms Murti Devi and Ms Babli; joint secretaries — Mr Piara Masih and Mr Biba Khan; and cashier — Mr Ram Kewal.

Kashmiri Pandit convention: The executive committee of the Pannun Kashmir Movement, which met here on Wednesday, decided to hold the Kashmiri Pandit Zonal Youth Convention on April 16.

Saplings planted: As many as 150 saplings were planted by students of Government High School, Kajheri, at a plantation function, sponsored by the State Bank of Patiala, Kajheri, on Wednesday. Mr S.C. Hora, bank manager, who was chief guest stressed the importance of trees in our day-to-day life.

Budget criticised: Members of the ESIC Employees Union, at a meeting here on Wednesday, criticised the Union Budget. No change in the standard deduction and lowering of the interest rate by 1% on the GPF savings has upset employees, who pay income tax, a press note said on Thursday.

Teachers' strike: The faculty of Shri Dhanwantri Ayurvedic College here on Thursday observed a pen-down strike to press the management of the college to give pay scales on government pattern and to give allowances as per government rules. The teaching faculty members said the UT Administration had adopted guidelines of the Punjab Government regarding the fixation of tuition fee but it had not bothered about the plight of teaching staff.

KHARAR
Hepatitis-B injections: Three hundred and fifty children and adults were vaccinated against hepatitis-B at a camp organised by the Lions Club Kurali. This information was given by Mr Anil Gupta, and Mr Harinder Dhiman, President, of the club on Thursday.

Eye camp: Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu, Organising Secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, inaugurated a free eye operation camp in Gharuan village, near here, on Thursday. The camp has been organised by the Youth Welfare Club of the village. Mr Sidhu appreciated the effort of the club and gave a cash donation of Rs 2100 to the club.

PAPPRI (SAS NAGAR)
Causeway not repaired: The lack of any effort to repair the damaged causeway on the Kambala-Manauli road had created a feeling of resentment among — residents of half a dozen villages in the area. The causeway, near Phase XI, SAS Nagar, had collapsed in the first week of February. Surinder Kaur, Sarpanch of Manauli, said the authorities had made a tempoarary arrangement for the passage of vehicles which was not sufficient. The kutcha diversion could only take two-wheelers. Residents said the PWD (B&R) was delaying the repair work.

HARYANA

FARIDABAD
Telephone numbers: The telephone numbers of Faridabad and Gurgaon are being changed from 5 p.m. on Friday. Stating this here on Wednesday, Mr R.N. Prabhakar, General Manager, Telecom, said digit five would be added to the Faridabad numbers and six to Gurgaon numbers making them seven-digit numbers. He said the telephone numbers of Palwal and Hodal would begin with digit three instead of five.

HISAR
Car, jeep stolen: A Maruti car and a jeep were stolen in Hansi on Tuesday. The car belongs to Mr Ajit Kumar Gupta and was parked outside a factory on Kali Devi Mandir Road. The jeep was parked outside a house in Roopnagar. Cases have been registered.

SONEPAT
Cop assaulted: Naresh, a constable of the Delhi Police, was assaulted along with his relatives by some policemen on duty at a barrier on the Sonepat-Jatheri road, 6 km from here, on Wednesday. Naresh and one of his relative who sustained head injuries, were rushed to the local Civil Hospital.

Looters held: With the arrest of two persons, the Rai police on Thursday claimed to have solved a case of loot and recovered a Maruti car which was forcibly taken by them at gunpoint. The arrested are Jasbir, alias Jassi of Halalpur village and Zile Singh of Shafiabad village.

Motor cycle recovered: The Rai police arrested Surinder of Pio Munyari village and Naresh of Patla village and recovered a stolen motor cycle from them on Wednesday. The motor cycle belonged to Mr Chaman Singh, a resident of Karhera Mohan Nagar (UP), who had parked it outside his relative’s house in Patla village from where it was stolen.

Thieves held: With the arrest of Vinod and Raju, alias Balraj of Jagsi village, the Baroda police on Thursday claimed to have solved four cases of thefts and recovered stolen property worth several thousands from them.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
Charas seized: The police on Wednesday seized 3 kg charas from two persons at the Tunnuhatti check-point on the Chamba-Pathankot highway. The police intercepted them on a tip-off given by secret agencies. Disclosing this here on Thursday, Mr R.M. Sharma, SP, Chamba, said both of them belonged to Punjab. They are Raju and Soni. A case has been registered.

SHIMLA
Engineer-in-Chief: Mr Shashi Kant Gupta, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Public Health, North Zone, took over as Engineer-in-Chief of the department here on Wednesday. He replaces Mr K.L. Handa, who retired on Tuesday.