R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Indian Academy of Fine Arts here: chairman — Deputy Commissioner (in ex-officio capacity); vice-chairman — Mr Mohinderjit Singh; president — Dr Dharamveer Singh Jolly; and honorary general secretary — Mr Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina.

BATHINDA
URGED: The Daily Commuters Association has urged the authorities concerned to reschedule the timings of the inter-city express from Sriganganagar to Hardwar. In a letter written to Ms Mamata Banerjee, Union Railway Minister, Mr H. Sidhu, president of the association said the changed time table of the train did not suit the daily passengers of Bathinda, Bhucho, Rampura Phul, Tapa, Dhuri and Nabha, who had to go to Patiala.

FATEHGARH SAHIB
AWARD SOUGHT: Various social organisations of Sirhind town have demanded a suitable award for Mr Raj Kumar, ASI, traffic in charge, for saving the life of Purshotam Lal. A truck had hit the scooter of Mr Purshotam Lal and fled from the scene after seriously injuring him. Mr Raj Kumar, who along with his family was going on a scooter, on seeing the accident followed the truck and after a chase nabbed the truck driver. He also arranged an ambulance and took the injured to a hospital.

THEFT: Televisions worth lakhs of rupees were stolen from an electronics shop in Sirhind town on Saturday. The thieves broke the locks of the showroom and stole nine television sets. A complaint had has been lodged with the police.

HOSHIARPUR
CRITICISED: The Punjab State General Category welfare Federation here at its meeting held on Monday criticised the state government for not implementing the Janjua report judgement.

JALALABAD
TRAFFIC DISRUPTED: The traffic on the Ferozepore-Fazilka railway line got disrupted when a wagon of a goods train coming from Ferozepur derailed between Zhoke Tehal Singh and Guruharsahai. Some fault in the wheels of the derailed wagon was stated to be the cause of the accident.

KHANNA
BODY FOUND: The body of a youth was found in a choe near Seh village, 4 km from here, on Saturday. According to Mr Amarjit Singh, sarpanch of the village, a villager saw the body and informed him. The body was cremated after informing the police.

PATIALA
STRIKE: Mr Sunil Kumar, proprietor of Utility Electronics at Budha Dal Shopping Complex in Lower Mall, has alleged that burglars broke into his showroom on Wednesday night and took away 12 colour televisions, two VCPs, a VCR, a CD and one audio player. A case has been registered under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC. Burglars also broke into the showroom of Rhythm DJ Systems and Electronics at the same time and place.  

CLUB CHIEF: Ms Amita Attri has been elected the President of the Inner Wheel Club (Patiala main) for the year 2000-2001. The other office-bearers of the club are as follows: Secretary — Ms Kuljeet Banga; Treasurer — Ms Rama Naurhia; Editor — Ms Balwant Arora; ISO — Ms Satwant Thukral.  

TARN TARAN
CONDEMNED: The local unit of the CPM at its meeting on Sunday here condemned the alleged anti-poor and anti-farmer policies of the Centre and the state government and urged the people to oppose their policies.

CHANDIGARH

ENTRANCE TESTS: The aptitude test for admission to the first-year postgraduate course in Gandhian and peace studies for the session 2000-2001 will be held on Friday at 10 am in the Department of Gandhian Studies of Panjab University, here. Entrance test for MA I English course will be held on Monday at 10 am in the Department of English. The physical efficiency tests for admission to the first-year bachelor's and postgraduate courses in physical education will be held on July 27 at 7 am on the university grounds. Written test for admission to the diploma course in translation (Hindi) will be held on July 28 at 9 am in the Department of Hindi.  

ADMISSIONS: Joint admissions to the BE-B.Arch courses of Panjab Engineering College, The Chandigarh College of Architecture and The PU Department of Chemical Engineering began here on Monday and will continue over the next three days. On Monday, only two seats in the Scheduled Caste category for the B.Arch course remained vacant. On Tuesday, admissions under the freedom fighters' and sportspersons' quotas will be done.  

PANCHKULA
FUNCTION: Devotees of Anant Shri Vibhushit Swami Balyogiji Maharaj celebrated Guru Purnima at the Shri Durga Mandir Sector 7 on Sunday. The bhog of Ram katha, which was started by the swami on July 7, was also held. After gurpoojan langar was distributed.  

HARYANA

AMBALA
DEMOLISHED: An illegal colony which was coming up in Singhawala village on the Hisar road in Ambala city was demolished. The colony was being established by the Sarpanch of the village and two property dealers in eight acres. When a team led by the District Town Planning Officer, Mr Aniruddh Sharma, went to the site along with the police force, the property dealers tried to prevent it from discharging its duties, according to a press note issued here. However, the demolition continued after about an hour when the police reinforcement reached the site. Officials who carried out the demolition were allegedly threatened by a local politician over telephone.  

PENSION ADALAT: The Defence Pension Disbursing Officer (DPDO) will hold a mini pension adalat on July 27 at 10 am in Ambala Cantonment. In a press note issued here, the Secretary of the Zila Sainik Board, Capt V.S. Narwal (retd), said ex-serviceman or widows of soldiers could visit the adalat for getting their grievances regarding pension redressed.  

FATEHABAD
TWO KILLED: The drivers of a roadways bus and a mini bus were killed when their vehicles collided near Kharakheri village on Monday. Five women were also injured.

KURUKSHETRA
ARRESTED: The local police has arrested two persons under the narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Act and three others under the Excise Act in four separate cases. About 65 bags of poppy husk, 700 gm of opium, 5,000 country-made liquor pouches, 120 kg of lahan and 20 bottles of illicit liquor and a truck used for smuggling were seized. This was stated by the district police chief , Mr Des Raj.

REWARI
KILLED: Karan Singh was killed and six were injured in a clash over a dispute regarding the tilling of some land between the families of Karan Singh and Balwan Singh at Lisana village, 5 km from here, on Friday. A case has been registered.

BANDH: Traders and shopkeepers of various markets observed a bandh here on Monday in protest against the "anti-trader" policy of the state government.

SIRSA
INJURED: About 20 persons were injured when a Haryana Roadways bus dashed into a tree near Pahodka village in Ellenabad subdivision of the district. The driver reportedly lost control of the bus while overtakig another bus .

PANCHAYAT HELD: A panchayat was held at Kharia village to decide the course of action against the in charge of the village primary health centre , Jitender Kumar Sapra, for allegedly misbehaving with patients and being absent from duty.

SONEPAT
DISRUPTED: Railway traffic on the Sonepat-Delhi section was disrupted for a few hours following the derailment of a goods train’s wagon near the railway station here on Sunday. According to a report, all long-distance and the suburban trains were held up at Sonepat and other stations. The cause of the derailment was stated to be a damaged portions of the railway track.

PRISONER DIES: Krishan of Aghwanpur village, who was facing trial in the cases of dacoity and murder, died at the district jail here on Sunday after a prolonged illness. The body was handed over to his parents after an inquiry by the SDO (C) and the post-mortem examination.

SUICIDE: A youth committed suicide by allegedly jumping in front of train near the cooperative sugar mills here on Sunday. The body remains unidentified.

YAMUNANAGAR
MURDER: A 30-year-old youth was murdered on Sunday allegedly by his friend on account of transaction of some money. According to police sources, Ram nath and Chhotu, both of Bihar, were working as labourers at Tarunwala village. The accused , Chhotu, attacked Ram Nath with a weapon and murdered him and fled from the scene. A case has been registered.

COMPLAINT LODGED: Passengers here lodged a complaint against Government Reserve Police personnel for allegedly taking bribe . Bachhitar Balhar Singh alleged that GRP men took away his money and refused to give it back and used foul language.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

HAMIRPUR
FLAYED: The district Upbhokta Sanrakshan Sangathan has flayed the working of the local civic body. It alleged that the civic body had failed to provide the basic civic amenities to the people of the town though it was charging 10 per cent house tax from them.

SHIMLA
MEDICAL LABORATORY: The state unit of the Bharatiya Vikas Parishad will set up a medical laboratory at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital here. Mr P.C. Katoch, Deputy Commissioner, while inaugurating a free dental check-up camp organised by the parishad at Krishna Nagar here on Sunday, said the administration had allotted two rooms for the laboratory which would be run on a no profit-no loss basis.