R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
VISIT: A delegation of school teachers, principals and senior educationists from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, England, visited the local DAV Public School. The 12-member delegation evinced keen interest in the education pattern and systems being adopted by the school.

STRIKE: The local unit of the All-India Defence Employees Federation went on a strike on Thursday to protest against the non-implementation of higher pay scales and other recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission. It also sought the lifting of the ban on recruitments which has been in force since 1984.

RALLY: Farm technocrats of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and soil conservation departments held a rally in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Thursday for the acceptance of their demands.

BARNALA
SEMINAR: The World Common Front will organise a seminar on human rights awareness under the aegis of the World Human Rights Protection Council at the local Kapil Palace on April 30. Mr A.P. Bhatnagar, Additional Director-General of Police, Punjab, State Human Rights Commission, will be the chief guest.

GURDASPUR
REGISTRATION: The registration of sale deeds in the subdivision has been computerised. Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, inaugurated a camera-fitted computer at the local Tehsil Complex here on Thursday in this connection. He said computerisation would be introduced at the sub-tehsil level and completed during the year.

RALLY HELD: Agriculture technocrats of the district held a protest rally and staged a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner, in support of their various demands here on Thursday.

LUDHIANA
APPOINTED: Mr Manjit Singh Malerkotla was appointed officer on special duty at the main office of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee here on Thursday.

LIONS CLUB: Dr Sandeep Chauhan has been unanimously elected president, Lions Club (Venus), for 2000-2001.

INAUGURATED: A two-day reorientation course on departmental inquiries and proceedings for gazetted officers started at Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, on Thursday. The course was inaugurated by Mr S.S. Bains, IGP (retd).

WHEAT PROCUREMENT: About 70 per cent of the process for the procurement of wheat in 1,500 mandis of Punjab has already been completed and 48,77,869 tonnes of wheat procured. This was stated by the Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, here on Thursday.

MEETING: Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, inaugurated the annual Kharif Oilseeds Research Workers’ Group meeting for discussion on sunflower, seasame and niger at the PAU.

GREEN REVOLUTION: Mr David E. Bonior, a Democratic member, US Congress, visited Punjab Agricultural University and had a detailed discussion with Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, and other senior scientists of the university regarding the role of the university to usher in a green revolution in the state.

CHANDIGARH

OFFICE-BEARERS: Mr Pradeep Saurabh of Hindustan was elected President of the Journalists Association, Chandigarh. Other office-bearers are : Secretary-General — Mr Devinderjit Singh Darshi (Nawan Zamana); Senior Vice-Presidents — Mr Asit Jolly (Asian Age) and Mr Kuldip Singh Sandhu (Northern News); Vice-Presidents — Mr Gajinder Singh (Telegraph) and Ms Kamla Sharma (Chardi Kala); Secretaries — Mr Kulwinder Sandhu (Amar Ujala) and Mr Prabhjit Singh (UNI); Joint Secretaries — Mr Anand Bharti (Jagran) and Mr Vijay Daber (PTI) and Treasurer - Mr GAP Singh (Uttam Hindu).

CIVIL SERVICES EXAM: Candidates desirous of taking the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination on June 4, 2000, can travel to Chandigarh to take the examination on the basis of the Admission certificate-cum-attendance sheet issued to them by the Union Public Service Commission, which may be treated as curfew pass in the event of any particular area on their way falling in the curfew area. This was stated in a press note of the Chandigarh Administration, saying that the examination would be conducted under the supervision of the Home Secretary, Mr M.P. Singh, and that candidates from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh will take their examination here.

HOUSELISTING: The Directorate of census Operations for the Union Territory of Chandigarh has thanked the people of Chandigarh for their cooperation and fearless information for the houselisting operations which have just ended. The Directorate has also thanked various departments, including the schools and others, who provided their staff for the successful completion of the houselisting operations.

LAUNCHED: Following the launch of a website on Thursday, the daily cause-list, besides the addresses of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association members, the executives and the judges can now be accessed on the internet. Information regarding the association, the process of membership, events organised and the list of books will also be available on the website.

HARYANA

AMBALA
KILLED: A school boy was killed on the spot and two others were injured when the rickshaw carrying them was hit by a tractor-trolley on the Ambala-Hisar road near new Anaj Mandi here on Friday. The deceased was identified as Rahil, a student of DAV Public School. His brother Sahil and another student Pushp Deep sustained injuries in the incident. The rickshaw puller also sustained injuries. The injured were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. The police has registered a case against the driver of the tractor-trolley. The Principal and the staff of DAV School expressed condolence over the death of the child.

CASE REGISTERED: The police has registered a case against two officials of the SDM office, under the prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly demanding bribe from a resident of Barara. According to the police, Mr Mohan Singh had applied for a heavy vehicle driving licence in the RTA Office, for which he had to require a certificate from the SDM office that he had already been issued a light vehicle driving licence. Mohan Singh alleged in the complaint that the officials had demanded bribe through an agent from him. He filed a complaint with the SP who ordered to register a case after the investigation.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KUMARHATTI
SEIZED: The police has seized 650 gm of charas from two person at Garhkhal, 10 km from here, on Wednesday. According to police sources, Ramesh Chand of Theog in Shimla district and Ravinder of Rajgarh in Sirmour district were arrested in this connection. A case under various sections of the NDPS Act has been registered.

PARWANOO
GIRLS INJURED: Four girls, who were working in a factory here, were injured in a road accident in Sector 2 here on Thursday evening. Sunita Rawat Anamica, Subichint Kaur and Kanta Rani, working with Magtronics Devices Limited, here in Sector 2, were injured near Kali Mitti on the old Kasauli road when they were hit by a loaded container trailer. All girls fell down a 15-ft deep gorge. The girls were rushed to local ESI Hospital. The driver and conductor of the vehicle fled from the scene. The police has registered the case under Sections 279, 304.