R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
MEDICAL BILLS: Dr Parminder Singh, Medical Superintendent, Deputy Director, ESI Hospital, said here on Wednesday that Rs 11 lakh would be distributed among insurance corporation employees against medical claim bills. Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health and Family Welfare Minister, would distribute the cheques on Friday at the hospital. A free eye-surgery camp would also be organised on the premises of the hospital.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
OLD-AGE HOME: The Citizen Club, Bassi Pathana, will construct an old-age home at Bassi Pathana for which the Assistant Public Relations Officer here, Mr Jai Krishan, has donated 130 yards. A day-care centre will also be set up.

CAMP: A family planning camp was organised here on Wednesday at the Civil Hospital. It was inaugurated by Dr R.S. Sandhu, Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab.

JALANDHAR
LIQUOR VENDS: The auction of liquor vends, which was held here on Wednesday, for 2000-2001 fetched more revenue in Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala districts than the last year. The auction in Hoshiarpur district netted Rs 49.54 crore and 42.14 crore in Kapurthala district.

LUDHIANA
ANNUAL FUNCTION: The annual prize distribution function of the Government College for Girls was held here on Wednesday. Dr Abrahim G Thomas, Principal, Christian Medical College, presided.

AWARDED: Mr Ranjit Singh Sandhu, a poultry farmer of Sangrur district, was awarded the S. Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award on Wednesday for 2000. Earlier, he had won a cash prize of Rs 5,000 and a citation at the Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University.

PATIALA
NEW HOD: Dr S.K. Verma has taken over as Professor and Head, ENT Department, Government Rajindra Hospital here, according to a press note.

FREE RATIONS: The Dedicated Brothers Group organised a free ration-distribution camp at Navi Disha Study Centre, Tripuri, Patiala, on Thursday. Mr Shingara Singh, a freedom fighter and SAD leader, was the chief guest.

I-G BEREAVED: Kulwant Bhatia (80), mother of Mr Lalit Bhatia, Inspector-General, Punjab Police rules, passed away on Wednesday night. Her cremation took place on Thursday. Kirya will take place on March 26 at Radha Krishan Mandir, Model Town.

PHILLAUR
BODY ELECTIONS: The Rashtriya Sikh Sangat national executive will meet from April 28 to 30 in Chandigarh to elect its new president and other office-bearers. This was stated by the organisation secretary, Mr Madanjit Singh, while talking to mediapersons after a state-level meeting here on Wednesday.

SUNDERNAGAR
ARRESTED: Duryodhan of Kaswara Illaqa Kotali was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly setting on fire his brother's cowshed. According to the police, the accused was not on good terms with his brother, Bhikam Ram. All 11 sheep and an ox died in the fire. A case under Section 436, IPC, has been registered.

CHANDIGARH

SANATAN BODY CHIEF: Mr B.S. Rana and Mr M.K. Garg have been elected President and General Secretary, respectively, of the Sector 43 Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha. Other office-bearers are: Senior Vice-President — Mr R.P. Sharma; Vice-Presidents — Mr Harkesh Sharma, Ms Rajni Vij and Mr Amarjit Singh Walia; and Cashier — Mr T.R. Mahajan.

STRIKE: The Student Welfare Council of Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College decided on Wednesday to call off its strike, following an assurance from the management of the college that classes would resume on March 22 and work on construction of hostel would begin by the end of this month.

COMMITTEE: A new Coordination Committee of Electricity Employees and Workers was formed here on Wednesday, with Mr Bhag Mal Rana and Mr Ujagar Singh Mohi as its Convener and Co-Convener, respectively. The new committee decided to hold a massive dharna on March 22 near the Sector 17 Azad Hind Store to oppose privatisation of electricity operations in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, besides demanding bonus for employees.

500-RUPEE NOTE: Mr Devinder Singh Babla and Mr Sandeep Singh of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee urged the Chandigarh Administration and Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday to issue instructions on 500-rupee notes to avoid harassment to the common man. They said government offices and banks continued to refuse to accept these currency notes.

EYE CAMP: The CITCO Workers Union organised a free eye camp in Sector 17 here on Wednesday. Over 500 persons were examined at the camp.

KALKA
COMPLAINT: Residents of Tipra Railway Colony near here have complained about the poor supply of water to their colony. The Tipra Colony Railway Welfare Association Secretary, Mr Om Parkash, said he had informed the department concerned but no action had been taken so far.

PANCHKULA
ASSISTANCE CAMP: A free check-up and assistance camp will be held at the Centre for the Hearing and Speech Impaired at Raipur Rani on Saturday. A team of ENT specialists from the PGI will conduct the camp. Modern machines will be used and free medicines will be given to patients.

HARYANA

ROHTAK
APPOINTMENT: The Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations has requested the Haryana Governor and the state Chief Minister to ensure the appointment of a proper person as the Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University. It has also sought that the amendments to University Act be repealed.

SIRSA
DOWRY CASE: Ms Priyanka of Mandi Dabwali in her complaint filed in a court on Wednesday alleged that her husband and her in-laws were harassing her for dowry. A case under Sections 498-A, 406, 506, 420 and 34, IPC, has been registered. In another case Mr Prabhjeet Kaur said she was not only being harassed for dowry but was also being forced to have extra-marital relations with her brother-in-law. A case has been registered under Sections 342, 447, 498-A, 406, 376, 452, 504, 506, 323 and 34, IPC.

SONEPAT
ARRESTED: Papoo, alias Devinder, of the industrial area here, Yogesh and Ashok of Prabhu Nagar, were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the alleged attack on Mr Suresh Kumar, a property dealer of the city, on Monday. The property dealer sustained bullet injuries on the hand and was taken to the local Civil Hospital.

IPS RANK GRANTED: The Union Home Ministry has granted an IPS rank to Mr Rajpal Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police, here with immediate effect. According to official sources, he got this rank after a legal battle with the state government.

KILLED: A 46-year-old man was killed on the spot when a vehicle hit him on the GT Road, 15 km from here, on Wednesday. A case has been registered.

KILLED IN ROBBERY: One person was killed and several injured, including the wife and son of the victim, when a gang of dacoits struck some houses in Sujan Singh Park area and Shadipur village here on Thursday. According to preliminary reports, the victim was identified as Ashok Kumar Chitkara, Manager of the Haryana Financial Corporation at Panipat. His wife and his 12-year-old son were stated to be in a critical condition.

LIQUOR SEIZED: Mr Rajinder Siwach, Deputy Superintendent of District Jail, raided a barrack at the jail here on Wednesday and seized one bottle of English wine from Krishan, who is undergoing a life term . A case has been registered.

ONE KILLED: Neelam, a young housewife, who had sustained serious burns when a gas cylinder burst in her house in Rajinder Nagar Colony here, succumbed to her injuries on the way to hospital on Wednesday. The leakage from the gas cylinder led to the mishap.

SUICIDE: Bhim Singh (45) committed suicide by reportedly taking some insecticide tablets in his house at Murthal village, 8 km from here, on Wednesday. A family feud was stated to be the cause of the suicide.

WOMAN KILLED: A woman was killed on the spot and her sister injured when they were hit by a canter on the kutcha road near Nangal Kalan village, 15 km from here, on Wednesday. The driver, however, managed to escape. A case has been registered.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KUMARHATTI
MOLESTED: A woman of Kattal KA Bagh village, 31 km from here, was allegedly molested by a youth of the same village on Tuesday when she was alone in her house. A case under Sections 452 and 354, IPC, has been registered.

LIQUOR SEIZED: The police seized 100 pouches of country-made liquor from Varinder of Theog in Shimla district at Tuesday at Parwanoo. According to the police, the accused was travelling in a Tata Sumo carrying newspaper bundles and had hidden the pouches in a bag. A case under the Excise Act has been registered.