R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
SELECTED: Dr Vikram Chadha, a Reader in Punjab School of Economics of Guru Nanak Dev University, has been selected for the post-doctoral research fellowship for one year to be undertaken at the Department of Pacific studies, University of Guadalajara (Jelisco), Mexico.

FARIDKOT
STRIKE: Class III and IV employees of the local Telecom Department went on a two-day strike on Thursday in protest against the privatisation of the Department of Telecom Services (DTS) and the Department of Telecom Operations (DTO). They also held a rally.

GARHSHANKAR
MEDICAL CAMP: The Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, Mr I. S Sidhu, inaugurated a free medical check-up camp at Garhi Mansowal village here on Thursday. He told mediapersons that cheques of Rs 47.65 lakh have been disbursed to 24 villages for developmental works during last month.

GURDASPUR
APPOINTED: Mr Raman Bahl has been appointed district chairman of the Human Rights Department, PPCC. This was stated in a press note issued by the PPCC president, Human Rights Department. Mr Bahl is a former president of the Local Municipality and has also served as general secretary of the Punjab Youth Congress.

HOSHIARPUR
MEETING: A meeting of the Human Rights Department of the local Congress committee was held here on Thursday in which block presidents and members from all over the district participated. It was decided at the meeting that they would participate in the first conference of the Human Rights Department of the PPCC to be held on August 26 at Jalandhar.

CONDEMNED: The local Janata Dal unit at a meeting held here on Thursday condemned the increase in power tariff by the PSEB. Mr Raj Kumar Niddar, a senior leader of the party, said the Janata Dal along with commercial organisations and other political parties would jointly start an agitation against the hike to urge the state government to withdraw it.

DEMANDED: The Field and Workshop Workers Union of the PWD at a meeting held here on Thursday demanded the regularisation of the services of dailywage and work-charge workers who had worked for 240 days. It also demanded new pay scales for work-charge workers and bonus for the past three years. The union warned the state government that if its demands are not accepted, it would start a statewide agitation soon.

AGITATION SUPPORTED: Mr Balwant Singh Khera and Mr Raj Kumar Nidar, both senior leaders of the Punjab Janata Dal, has supported the agitation of the State Elementary Teachers Union. In a joint press note issued here on Thursday they justified the gherao of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, by the Elementary Teachers union at Doda near Muktsar.

MOGA
CASE REGISTERED: The Baghapurana police on Thursday arrested Jarnail Singh, Darshan Singh, Lall Singh, Gurmel Singh, Kaka Singh, Zora Singh and Amar Singh of Manuke village here under Sections 324/323 of the IPC for allegedly causing injuries to certain persons of the village in a clash that took place a few days back.

POWER SHORTAGE: Several villages of the district on Thursday complained that they have not received regular supply of canal water and electricity for the past several months despite assurances from the Chief Minister. They said they were receiving power supply only for two to three hours daily. They urged the government to take immediate corrective measures.

PATIALA
FAMILY PENSION CASE: On the directions of the government and the A.G., Punjab, the family pension cases of all the retirees have been finalised. This was informed by the District-Treasury Officer, Mr Sube Singh, during a meeting of the Punjab Pensioner’s Welfare Association here on Thursday. In a press note release, the Association General Secretary, Mr Dayal Singh Bajaj, said that the Treasury Officer had assured the association that cooler for pensioner’s room will be installed immediately on receipt of funds from small saving scheme. Besides proper sitting arrangement for the pensioners will also be provided immediately, he said. All the pensioners are requested to contact the Treasury Officer for recording family pension entries in their respective PPOs on any working day. 

LAST DATE EXTENDED: The Patiala Colonies Welfare Federation has extended the date for submission of forms, for pilgrimage to Sri Nankana Sahib (Pakistan), till August 31. Forms for this purpose are available at the Charanbagh office of the federation. 

INTEREST RATES REVISED: The State Bank of Patiala has revised the interest rates on domestic term deposits, according to a press note issued here on Thursday. On deposits less than Rs 15 lakh, the rates for a period of 15 days and upto 45 days stands revised to 4.5 per cent per annum, whereas for a period of three years and above the rate of interest has been revised to 10 per cent per annum. Similarly, the rates for 15 days upto 45 days for Rs one crore and less than Rs 10 crore stands revised to five per cent per annum. 

POPPY HUSK SEIZED: The Patiala police has launched a campaign against anti-national and anti-social elements as per the directions of the Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu. During this campaign, Inspector Varinder Singh and SHO PS Kotwali recovered 25 bags of poppy husk, which were loaded in a mini truck near Chhoti Nadi bridge, Sanour Road. Three persons have been arrested in this connection and were identified as Nihal Singh, Butta Singh and Nachatar Singh. 

TARN TARAN
BOOKED: Nirmal Singh and Harpal Singh of Pangota village along with their mother Harbans Kaur have been booked under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC for seriously injuring Lakhwinder Singh of the same village, who succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.

CHANDIGARH

SPIRITUAL SCHOOL: Mr Raj Sharma, president, Sri Sanatan Dharam Hari Mandir Sabha, Sector 32-A, in press note released here on Thursday, said that a spiritual school would be set up in premises of Sri Pracheen Hanuman Mandir, Sector 32-A, for the children below 15 years of age to help them to know about the ancient vedic culture. The children will be imparted spiritual education so that they could acquire a good moral character. 

HARYANA

AMBALA
APPOINTED: Mr Laxman Devan is the new president of the Ambala unit of Haryana Pichda Warg Sangh. At a meeting, Mr Mahender Kashyap, who was the joint secretary, has been appointed the general secretary of the Ambala unit of the Sangh, Mr Devan said. He said that among other things, reservation policy on the Harijan pattern, removal of creamy layer from the backward classes and re-establishment of reservation for backward classes in engineering and medical colleges was discussed at the meeting. 

CHAUTALA'S VISIT: The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, will be visiting Ambala on Sunday. The Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Mr Ram Niwas, said Mr Chautala will be laying the foundation stone of a dharamshala at the Civil Hospital, Ambala City, and will inaugurate the Old Age Home and Vikas community hall. 

HISAR
TELEPHONE DIRECTORY: The Telecommunications Department released a directory of the district here on Wednesday. The General Manager, Telecom, Mr Dev Kumar Verma, said the directory would be provided to subscribers free of cost between August 28 to September 27. Subscribers could get directories after producing original receipt of the bill for July and August, he said.

ROHTAK
MINOR RAPED: A minor girl was raped by a youth in Kharainti village of the Meham subdivision here on Wednesday. The girl in her complaint alleged that Rajesh of the same village had raped her when she was alone at home. A case has been registered in this connection.

DEMOLITION CASE: Mr Arun Kumar, a former Deputy Commissioner, failed to appear in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate on Thursday in connection with the demolition of lawyers’ chambers near the court here last year. The court fixed November 22 as the date for hearing in the case.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

PARWANOO
JANMASHTAMI CELEBRATED: The Janmashtami was celebrated on August 23 with great fervour in various sectors of this town. The function, organised by the staff of local Assistant Commissioner’s office and local police in Sector 1 here, began with kirtans and bhajans. Jhankis depicting the various Lilas of Lord Krishna were presented. Deputy Commissioner of Solan and Superintendent of Police were the Chief Guests of the function. Vishnu Kant Shastri, the Governor of Himachal Pradesh also attended the function and appreciated the efforts made by the local Assistant Commissioner staff and Police staff to celebrate this function. He also liked the “Kheer’ as a prasad which was distributed to the public as a prasad. In another function in the town, Sarv Dharam Sabha celebrated the function at Shiv Shakti — Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir at Sector 5.