R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

DHURI
MINOR RAPED: A five-year old girl was raped at Bugra village under the Dhuri Police Station. The police has arrested Hardev Singh alias Happy and a case has been registered against him under Section 376 of the I.P.C.

SUICIDE: Mr Satgur Singh of Janta Nagar, here committed suicide. According to reports the deceased tried to establish physical contact with a girl of the same locality. On refusal by the girl, the deceased injured her with a sharp-edged weapon and later committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance. A case has been registered under Section 302 of the IPC.

LUDHIANA
FEE DISTRIBUTION: Thirteenth annual fee distribution function was organised here on Sunday by Shri Sidh Seva Mandal. A cultural programme was also organised by the students of various schools.

CAMP ORGANISED: A blood donation camp was organised by the Indian Crime Prevention Society and the Lal Bahadur Shastri Social Forum here on Sunday at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. Dr Utpal Joshi, SP, (Headquarters ) inaugurated the camp while Dr Waheguru Pal Singh, Medical Superintendent , presided.

MEETING: Mrs Shanti Devi was unanimously appointed as the president of the women wing of the Bairagi Maha Mandal at a state-level meeting held here on Sunday. The meeting was held under the presidentship of Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa.

HONOURED: Prof Antar Jyoti Ghai was presented with a roll of honour, a medal and cash prize for securing the top position in Panjab University in MA-II (political science) examination, held in April 1998. At the 38th annual convocation of the Khalsa college Women, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, held here on Friday. Convocation address was delivered by Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Minister of Technical Education, Punjab.

MALERKOTLA
MYSTERIOUS DEATH: A deputation of the local BJP and the Citizen Welfare Council met the district police chief, Mr Arpit Shukla, at Sangrur, in connection with the mystery surrounding the killing of Mrs Meena Bansal that took place a few days ago. Mr Shukla assured them of all possible help.

STREET LIGHTS: The Mahalla Sudhar Committee of the local Sant Colony on Sunday demanded installation of streetlights in their locality. According to Dr Satish Kapoor, spokesman of the committee, while the street lights on main roads had started functioning the residential enclaves still remain in darkness.

DOWRY DEATH: The police has registered a case against Jagtar Singh of Khanpur for killing his wife Charanjit Kaur for not brining enough dowry. The victim’s father Nand Singh of Bathan village in a complaint said that his daughter was killed by Jagtar Singh, with the help of his mother and father. He alleged that the accused harassed her demanding more money.

PATIALA
ROAD CARPETING: The Hira Nagar Welfare Society on Sunday urged the Municipal Corporation to complete the carpeting of a large patch of road in the colony. In a press note Mr H.S. Sodhi and Mr Dayal Singh Bajaj, President and Secretary of the society, respectively, lamented that the corporation had left the road work incomplete by merely digging up the road and laying the announced CC flouring.

PHAGWARA
CYCLIST KILLED: A cyclist, Laxman Das Sodhi (65), was crushed to death by a motor cycle on the GT Road near Chak Hakim village, 3 km from here, on Saturday.

ZIRAKPUR
BHAGWATI JAGRAN: Hundreds of devotees thronged the 6th Bhagwati Jagran which was organised by the Shopkeepers Welfare Association on Saturday night. Mr Ravinder Singh Sohi, a former Chairman of the Zila Parishad, inaugurated the Jagran by lighting the lamp. Besides residents of surrounding villages, prominent persons of the locality were also present.

CHANDIGARH

FELICITATED: As many as 36 children from Classes 1 to V, who obtained more than 75 per cent marks in their annual examinations, were felicitated at the annual function of the Himachal Maloya Niwasi Sudhar Sabha here on Saturday. A cultural programme was also organised to mark the celebrations. The President of the Sabha, Mr H.G.S. Dadwal, said that sabha wrote more than 100 letters to the authorities concerned over poor civic amenities in Maloya Colony, including frequent power breakdown, inadequate bus service, damaged streetlights, deplorable condition of internal roads and acute shortage of drinking water.

SUPPORT GROUP: The Sahayta Cancer Sahyog, an emotional support group, which provides holistic help to cancer patients has formed its own parent group called Sahayta Vatsalya Sahyog (parents’ love for their children) for regular interaction among parents whose children are afflicted with cancer, to share their grief and to find a way to cope with the situation. The first parent meeting will be held on May 2 at 11 am in the Paediatric ward of the PGI. Interested parents can also contact Sahayta volunteers in the Pediatric oncology between 10.30 am to 12 noon on Fridays in Room No. 7.

RAMNAVAMI: Ramnavami was celebrated by Shirdi Sai Sharnam Sangathan in Sector 21 on Sunday. Devotees from different parts of the country attended the function. Bhajans were presented and a langar was also organised. Satya Nandji Maharaj stressed on Brahm Gyan.

PANCHKULA
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Panchkula Welfare Federation: President — Mr J.S. Shangari; Senior Vice-President — Mr M.L. Sharma; Vice-President — Ms Aprna Bhardwaj and Mr Ashok Khanna; General Secretary — Mr M.K. Sharma; Finance Secretary — Mr N.S. Sharma; Secretary — Dr V.K. Gagneja; Press Secretary — Mr Prashant Chugh; Organising Secretary — Mr Rakesh Grover and Auditor — Mr H.R. Sharda.

SAS NAGAR
STRANGE AILMENT: It is just like an epilepsy fit. At least 16 head of cattle kept by a Durali village resident are suffering from a strange ailment. The cattle tremble and collapse on the ground only to get up after a few bours, said the villager, Mr Kaka Singh. Veterinary surgeons have not been able to detect the disease.

DUES: The Ropar unit of the Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab and Chandigarh, has urged the Chief of Staff, Western Command, Chandimandir, to call an emergency meeting of the Rajya Sainik Board to recover the dues charged in the form of octroi by the Punjab Government during President’s rule.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

SHIMLA
MISHAP: Two persons were killed when a truck in which they were travelling rolled down into a khud at the Bheri Chowk near Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district on Saturday, police sources said on Sunday. The deceased have been identified as Suresh Kumar and Sultan Chand.