R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

DORAHA
ACCIDENT: A tempo carrying 29 men and women and three children is reported to have fallen into the Sirhind River, Monday evening. ASI Harbans Singh with his first aid team reached the spot in no time and with the help of the public, rescued all the occupants of the tempo. A child, however, drowned in the incident. 

FATEHGARH SAHIB
SANCTIONED: A sangat darshan programme was held at Nalina Kalan village in the district on Monday, where the Deputy Commissioner said the state government had sanctioned Rs 5.30 crore for various development projects in the district.

FEROZEPORE
ELECTED: Mr Gurdev Singh and Mr Sami Chand have been elected president and secretary of the Cantonment Board Employees Union, respectively. The elections were held after the union was dissolved a few days back by the CEO, Mr N.Srivivasa Reddy.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the district unit of the Joint Action Christian Forum, Punjab: president — Mr Piara Gill; Sr. vice-president — Mr Emanuel Sidhu; vice presidents — Mr Suresh Kumar and Mr Jeeteshwar Sidhu; general secretary — Mr Alvin Bhatti; and joint secretary — Mr Sunil Patrik.

HOSHIARPUR
ANIMAL HELPLINE: The city police has launched project ‘‘Animal Helpline’’ with the aim of rescuing abandoned, sick and injured stray animals and providing medical assistance and shelter to them. Mr R.P. Mittal, SSP, said the project centre had been constructed at the Police Lines and a DSP had been made the nodal officer.

THIRD FRONT: Mr Balwant Singh Khera, a leader of the state Janata Dal, said on Monday that negotiations were going on among leaders of various factions of the Janata Dal in Punjab to form a third front in the state. He said talks with Leftist groups and disgruntled Akali leaders were also in progress.

KHARAR
ARREARS WAIVED: The local municipal committee at its meeting held here on Monday has passed a resolution regarding waiving of interest on arrears of house tax as per the directions of the Punjab Government. According to Mr Gian Chand Gupta, Executive Officer of the committee, the resolution has been passed in order to boost the recovery of long-pending arrears of house tax and this exemption would be available for a period of one month. The committee also has passed a resolution and made a five-member subcommittee for the recruitment of handicapped candidates for three posts. 

LUDHIANA
CRITICISED: Mr Avtar Singh, general secretary, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU), Ludhiana, has criticized the continued unscheduled power cuts on industry for hours together in the city, coupled with low voltage. In a press note issued on Tuesday, he claimed that in view of the power cuts, the industry could not consume the basic units of electricity to cover the minimum charges. Expressing the industry’s concerns, he said it would make the industrial products costlier and uncompetitive in the local as well as in the international market. Mr Inderjit Singh Pradhan, president of CICU urged the board to withdraw increased minimum charges and ensure regular power supply. He further asked to prepare bills for actual units consumed.

GHANTA GHAR: The Ghanta Ghar chowk in the heart of city is being spruced up as a part of the Municipal Corporation’s drive to make the towering monument suitably visible from all sides. Municipal vehicles arrived at the chowk on Tuesday morning to remove unauthorised hoardings and signboards. Rehris doing business on the road to Mata Rani chowk were also chased away by the municipal staff. There was no opposition from any quarters however against the MC’s action. 

CONDEMNED: The All India Bank Officers’ Association has condemned the killing of Mr Rajinder Mohan Singh, Senior Manager and Gurdip Singh, gun-man of Punjab and Sind Bank, Sultanwind road Branch at Amritsar, on Monday. Mr Kuldeep Singh Sandhu, president of the association, in a press note here on Tuesday demanded that adequate security to save the bank employees from such incidents should be provided and the culprits be arrested immediately. He also demanded suitable compensation for the bereaved families. 

ELECTED: The following have been appointed office-bearers of the Akhil Bharti Vidyarthi Parishad: president — Dr Satish Joshi; vice-president — Mr Jogeshwar Partap; town president — Mr Rashpal Singh; town vice-president — Mr Rakesh Choudhry; treasurer — Mr Mohit Goyal; programmer president — Mr Varun Kumar. 

PATIALA
MISBEHAVIOUR: The fact finding committee of the Indian Medical Association, Punjab, on Monday expressed strong view on the ongoing tussle between the PCMS Association and the Minister for Social Security, Mr Gobind Singh Kanjla. The committee alleged that Mr Kanjla not only misbehaved with the four lady doctors at an old age pension camp held at Nadampur but also interfered in their professional duties. The PCMS doctors in Sangrur district have agitated against this misbehaviour which is likely to spread in the state, according to a press note issued by Dr O.P. Singh Kande, the president of the Association. The IMA demanded a public apology from Mr Kanjla.

SAMRALA
PROTEST: More than 50 agriculturists of the middle class surrounding Samrala city tried to jam the traffic in front of the court of Mr Sandeep Hans, SDM, Samrala, in protest against the notification of bypass at Samrala. The demonstrators were demanding that the bypass not be built on their land as they totally depended upon it for their livelihood. Later they submitted a memorandum to Mrs Jaspal Kaur, local Naib Tehsildar, in the absence of SDM, Samrala. 

TRIBUTES: Tributes were paid to the social worker, Mr Harcharan Singh, of Jodhwal village on the premises of the Community Club at Machhiwara, near here, on Monday. Mr Ishar Singh Meharban, former minister, and Jathedar Kirpal Singh Khirnian, member of SGPC, Samrala, lauded the bet services of Mr Harcharan Singh for the general public of the area in spite of being illiterate.

CHANDIGARH

NOMINATION:Mr Yogesh Putney, a local advocate, has been nominated as a member of the Chandigarh Telephone Advisory Committee to represent the public workers and other categories. 

HEALTH CAMP: HelpAge India and Satyaksh Sewa Charitable Trust organised a health check-up camp in the Arya Samaj Mandir, Sector 7, Chandigarh. In order to ensure healthy ageing, HelpAge India is providing mobile medicare services with the motto “Quality medicare services at the doorstep of the needy elderly”. Around 160 persons were treated for general ailments like hypertension, asthma, arthritis, dental and for eye ailments. 

BAIL ACCEPTED: The UT Additional District and Sessions Judge accepted the bail application of city resident, Sohan Lal, in case of causing injury by a sharpedged weapon on Monday. The accused had been arrested by the police in July under Sections 326 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The complainant, Amarjit, alleged that accused along with Ram Krishan had beaten him and stabbed him in his abdomen, when he was buying vegetables in the Dadu Majra market. Sohan Lal was released on furnishing of a bail bond of Rs 20,000 and surety of the like amount. The other accused, Ram Krishan, had already been granted bail on August 8 by the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge. 

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Residential Welfare Society, Sector 45-D: President — Mr Devinder Singh Dhiman; Senior Vice-President — Mr Raghbir Singh Rana; Vice-President — Mr P.L. Sharma; General Secretary — Mr Rajinder Pal; Assistant General Secretary — Mr Ramji Mourya; Organising Secretary — Mr G.R. Batra; Propaganda Secretary — Mrs Randhir Kaur; Finance Secretary — Mr Gurdial Singh; Auditor — Mr Duppan Singh; Store Officer — Mr Niranjan Dass; and Sports Secretary — Mr Padam Singh Rana.

SEMINAR: A seminar on Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) will be held at the auditorium of the Advanced Paediatric Centre, PGI, on September 2 under the aegis of Chandigarh Ophthalmological Society. According to a note issued here on Tuesday, Dr Amod Gupta, Head of the Eye Department, will chair the seminar. Dr S.K Sharma, Director, PGI, who will be the chief guest, will release the maiden issue of Ophthalmic Newsletter. A large number of ophthalmologists and paediatricians of the region will participate as delegates. Dr R.V Prasad, Professor of Ophthalmology (AIIMS) and former president of Delhi Ophthalmological society will be one of the main speakers. 

HONOURED: The State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur honoured the three highest tax payers — Mr M.L. Sarin, Mr M.M. Khanna and Mr Dewan Ramesh Chand — who received Samman Patras from the Income Tax Department for their exemplary contribution to society. The Chief Manager, along with the Deputy Manager of the Chandigarh branch of the bank, visited the residences of the honoured persons and presented them bouquets on behalf of the bank. 

KILLINGS CONDEMNED: Members of the All-India Punjab and Sindh Bank Officer’s Union, strongly condemned the brutal killing of bank employees near Amritsar, in a meeting headed by Mr G.S. Khera, President of the union on Tuesday. The union demanded adequate compensation for the bereaved families and a suitable job for one of the kin of the deceased. 

LITERACY DAY: As many as 30 participants took part in a poetry recitation competition organised by the Adult Education Department, as part of the celebrations of International Literacy Day at the Female Literacy House, Sector 42, on Tuesday. The department is organising different competitions for the learners and Preraks of different centres in the city. Monika Sharma, Bir Singh and Afroj won the first, second and third prizes. While Lata Rani and Naindeep were given consolation prizes. 

DEATH CONDOLED: The staff of Punjab and Sind Bank, Sector 17-C, held a condolence meeting to pay homage to Mr Rajinder Mohan Singh, Senior Manager, and Mr Gurdeep Singh, a gunman, posted at its branch office at Sultanwind road, Amritsar, who were killed in the bank dacoity on August 28. 

CERTIFICATES: As many as 60 neo-literates were given certificates by Ms Bhupinder Kaur, sarpanch of Sarangpur village, on the valedictory function as part of the Beauty Culture Training Programme, organised by the Jan Shikshan Sansthan in collaboration with the Department of Adult and Continuing Education, Panjab University, in Sarangpur village, on Tuesday.

HARYANA

AMBALA
MEETING: A meeting of the Vikas Parishad under the chairmanship of Mr Chandra Prakash was held at PWD Rest House, Ambala. The Press Secretary of the parishad, Mr Sanjeev Chaudhary, welcomed Mr Chautala’s favourable response towards forming a corporation in Ambala. The General Secretary, Mr Umesh Sahni, said corporators and former corporators who attended the meeting were of the opinion that there would be significant development in Ambala city and Ambala cantonment when a corporation was formed. 

SUICIDE: A woman consumed poison on Monday evening in Ambala city and later died. She also made an attempt to poison her 10-month-old daughter. The woman belongs to Yamunanagar and was married to a youth of Ambala city three years back. The brother of the deceased, Mukesh, alleged in the police report that her sister was being harassed by some members of her in-laws for dowry. The police has registered a case against the husband of the deceased and some of the members of her in-laws. 

CONSTRUCTION: The Giants group of Ambala Central has decided to construct two toilets in the Government Primary School No. 1, Ambala city. The President of the group Mr Rajiv Soni said the school children were badly in need of it. The group also provided some fans to the school. 

CASE REGISTERED: The police has registered a case against 10 residents of Mohra village for blockading the G.T. Road on Monday evening. The villagers had blockaded the road to protest against the insufficient supply of electricity in their area. 

FATEHABAD
ORGANISED: The local Mother Teresa International School organised various competitions for schoolchildren to mark the birth anniversary of Mother Teresa on Monday.

KURUKSHETRA
WHEAT PRODUCTION: Kurukshetra district has secured the first position in Haryana by producing 45.72 quintals of wheat per hectare, against 41.67 quintals per hectare produced in the state during the last rabi season. The Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Jyoti Arora, said on Monday that 4.98 lakh tonnes of wheat was produced in the district, which was 5.16 per cent of the total production in the state.

YAMUNANAGAR
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Yamunanagar: president — Mr Babu Ram Gupta; senior vice-president — Mr Subash Goel; vice-president — Mr Ishwar Singh Atwal; secretary — Dr Joginder Singh Baweja; treasurer — Mr Parbodh Puri; and legal advisers — Mr Jai Deep and Mr Pardeep Garg.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KANGRA
BLOOD DONATION: A blood donation camp was organised by the Sant Nirankari sect at the local Satsang Bhavan on Monday.

STUDENTS’ PROTEST: Students of Dr R.P. Medical College, Tanda, near here, on Monday wore black badges in protest against the failure of the college authorities and the district administration to provide hostel accommodation to 17 girl students of the college on the college premises. The students threatened to boycott classes if their demand was not met with.

KUMARHATTI
AGITATION: The executive committee of the local Kisan Council has resolved to intensify its agitation against the new agriculture policies of the Central Government. It will hold a district-level agitation on November 15 and to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. The council also decided to participate in a march to Parliament on November 30 being organised by the Left organisations of farm labourers.

SOLAN
CASES REGISTERED: The police has registered cases against five CITU leaders, who led the ‘‘Baddi bandh on Sunday on charges of blocking traffic, rioting, causing breach of peace and criminally intimidating the management of the Birla Textile Mills. Workers of the mill have been agitating for the acceptance of their demands.