R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BARNALA
DISTRIBUTED: Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Punjab Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister, distributed, on Tuesday, 125 sewing machines at Sekha village, 50 machines at Chauhan ke Kalan and 20 machines at Maangewal village to widows and poor girls enable to help them financially. Mr Malkit Singh Keetu, MLA, Barnala, financed these machines.

AGENTS WARNED: The district administration has decided to take stern action against the commission agents charging more amount than the fixed commission under the plea of giving the same to state agency officials as bribe from the farmers for the sale of paddy crop in grain markets during the past two months in the district, said the Deputy Commissioner, Mr A. Venu Prasad, here on Thursday.

GURDASPUR
INAUGURATED: The Cooperative Mill Paniar started crushing on Wednesday. Mr Sucha Singh Langah, PWD Minister, inaugurating the 21st crushing season of the mill, 300 lakh quintals of sugarcane would be crushed in the state during the current season and would produce 28 lakh quintals of sugar. He said the production of sugarcane in the state would be increased from present 7 per cent to 12-13 per cent.

NO MID-TERM POLLS: Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, General Secretary, Shiromani Akali Dal, talking to newsmen at Majra village, 20 km from here, on Wednesday ruled out mid-term polls in the state. He said SAD-BJP government did not face any challenge from any party. The Congress’s propaganda about polls was baseless, he added.

HOSHIARPUR
PWD MINISTER: The Shiromani Akali Dal (B) will not have any poll alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party in the coming Assembly elections, said Mr Sucha Singh Langah, Minister of State for the PWD here on Thursday. He said the SAD-BJP alliance would continue. All national and state highways and link roads would be repaired during the current financial year, he added.

GANG-RAPED: A case of gang-rape of a teenager of the local Mohalla Fatehgarh has been reported in Model Town police station on Wednesday. A local dental surgeon is said to be involved in the case. Mr Ravinder Bakshi, DSP (H), said that on the complaint of the mother of the victim, a case under Sections 376, 342, 506 and 34 of the IPC had been registered against five persons. The DSP said two suspects had been arrested.

JALANDHAR
MEDICAL CAMP: The Sports Goods Foundation of India in collaboration with the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development organised a free medical camp at Tajpur village on Wednesday. As many as 600 patients were examined and provided medicines free of cost.

DEMANDED: The Indian Workers Association (IWA) of the Great Britain, in a press note released here on Wednesday demanded that the Central Government should accord status of dual citizenship to persons of Indian origin who had acquired foreign nationality on January 26, 1950.

LUDHIANA
CAMP: A free medical camp was organised at Dohlon village, near Jodhan in this district, jointly by Soni Hospital, and Hunjan Bone and Joint Clinic, in which team of doctors led by Dr Balwant Singh Hunjan examined more than 200 patients. Free medicines and spectacles were also distributed and a few patients were registered for free operations. 

RALLY: More than 30,000 Dalit Sena workers from all over Punjab would proceed to Delhi in five special trains on November 27 to take part in the massive national-level rally, being convened by the Union Communications Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, at Ram Lila Maidan on November 28. This was stated by state president of Dalit Sena, Mr Amar Singh Mehmi and its district president, Mr Kartar Singh Patna. The two sena activists, who had attended the meeting of the national executive and state presidents at Delhi on November 6, said that Mr Paswan would formally launch his new political party at the rally. 

Animal welfare camp: The Blue Cross Society, an animal welfare organisation, will conduct a two-hour camp at Sarabha Nagar, Block B, Verka Park from 10.30 a.m to 12.30 a.m. on November 12. A free veterinary check up, vaccination and direct interaction with the veterinary experts from the Punjab Agriculture University veterinary clinics would be organised. Literature on care, management and vaccination schedule of dogs would also be distributed. 

oration: The 18th Dr Lobo memorial annual oration will be held on November 18 at the auditorium of Christian Medical College and Hospital. This oration is arranged every year to commemorate the achievements of late Dr Lobo, former Principal of CMC and doyen of medical education by a trust of intellectuals. This was stated by Dr M K Mam, Professor of Orthopaedics in CMC, who is the organising secretary of the Dr Lobo Memorial Trust said.

celebrations: Children’s week was inaugurated at Lovely Lotus Nursery School with a street show performed by the tiny tots of the school. The kids danced to the tunes of popular numbers Pyar ki kashti mein, Mujeh pyar karo, Dil chori sada ho gaya, Lalli lal dupatte lai ke and Tu ne payal jo chhankai. The kids were wearing colourful casual dresses as the Principal, Ms Harpreet Gill, said she did not want the parents to waste money on dress-making. Talking about the show, Ms Gill said: “The parents of the kids of one section were invited today and for the next three days, parents of the kids of other sections will be invited. By repeat performances on successive days, the children will get the opportunity to correct themselves for the next show. Finally on November 14, all children will be given away participation prizes.’’ The chief guest for today’s function was Dr I.S. Jaswal, Head, Department of Human Development, Punjab Agricultural University. 

MACHHIWARA
INSTRUMENT DEVELOPED: A young man, Mr Satnam Singh of Gonsgarh village has claimed to have developed an instrument that would aid in solving the ‘phase problem’ of electricity supply. Mr Satnam Singh Bajwa, who has recently passed 10+2 in agro trade, explained that the instrument could be used by connecting to a transformer only. He further told that the instrument would start functioning as soon as three phase supply would cease. 

MALERKOTLA
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the New Century Lions Club here: president — Mr Piyush Jain, general secretary — Mr Gagan Gupta, and treasurer — Mr Puneet Jain.

KILLED: Ajay Kumar (28) of Gorakhpur in UP was killed in a road accident on the Malerkotla-Ludhiana road here on Wednesday. According to information, a car hit him while he was crossing the road. A case has been registered.

PHILLAUR
HERB CROPS: The Punjab Health Minister, Mr Baldev Raj Chawla, has inspired the farmers of the state to grow ‘‘herb crops’’ alongwith other crops including wheat, paddy, and sugarcane. Talking to this correspondent here on Wednesday, Mr Chawla said the Punjab Government would organise ‘‘training camps’’ at village level to educate farmers to grow herb crops to encourage the Indian System of Medicine.

SAMRALA
Seminar organised: A Seminar to educate the public in connection with free legal services was held here, on Thursday, on the premises of the local community Centre Club. It was presided over by Ms Ranjeet Kaur, Sub Judge, Samrala. On this occasion the president of the Bar, Mr L.S. Rai and the stage secretary, Mr Parminder Singh Gill, thanked the participants for their active interest. 

CHANDIGARH

PROTEST: Employees of the Super Bazar held a rally in front of the head office in Sector 22 here on Thursday. The employees were agitated against the decision of the Chandigarh Administration to close down the Super Bazar and termination of the services of its all employees without any prior notice and not giving any service benifits. The emloyees also demanded salaries since August. 

SAS NAGAR 

SCHEMES LAUNCHED : To coincide with the birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, Gurdwara Sri Kalidhar Singh Sabha, Phase IV, has launched a couple of welfare schemes, including a social welfare scheme and opening of a well-equipped medical centre. 

HARYANA

AMBALA
QUIZ: The Northern Railway Traffic Lobby, Ambala, along with the Chunmun Club will organise Kaun Banega Hazarpati quiz at the Railway Club, near Ambala cantonment railway station, on November 12. The first round is for children up to the age of 15 years, second for ladies, third for gents and the fourth will be an open round. There will be an entrance test at 5 p.m. on the same day and the second session will start at 7 p.m. While there will be a fastest finger round, the first question of the final round will be for Rs 50 and the last question will be worth Rs 1,000, a release said. 

NATIONAL BOOK WEEK: A story symposium will be held at Ambala cantonment as part of the National Book Week to be observed from November 14. During the symposium, to be organised by the National Book Trust, senior and new writers will read out their stories. Among others, Swadesh Deepak, Rakesh Vats, Yashpal Vaid, Vikesh Nijhawan, Tara Panchal and Surendra Gupt are expected to take part in the symposium. A press note said that the National Book Trust chose Ambala cantonment as there were a number of people interested in literature here. In the next few years, similar programmes will be organised in different parts of Haryana so that literature can be given a boost in the state. 

HISAR
SHIFT: All offices of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) will shift to new building when the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, inaugurates ‘Vidyut Sadan’ in the Vidyut Nagar complex here on November 18.

DHARNA SUSPENDED: The Haryana Agricultural University Teachers Association (HAUTA) today suspended its eight-day-long dharna organised the demand the implementation of the ICAR pay package. A press note issued by the HAUTA said a general body meeting of the association was held here on Thursday. A decision to give more time to the authorities to implement the package was taken.

JIND
SNATCHED: Two armed youths snatched Rs 1.05 lakh from Babu Ram, an employee of petrol station at Uchana town here on Wednesday. According to reports, Babu Ram was going from petrol station to Uchana grain market on his scooter. On the way, he was intercepted by two motorcycle-borne youths who asked him to hand over the money. When he refused, they snatched his bag and fled. A case has been registered.

ARRESTED: Balwant Singh, sarpanch of Danoda Kalan village in this district, was arrested on Wednesday allegedly for beating an employee of the Electricity Department and causing obstruction in government duty. A case has been registered under Sections 332, 353, 323, 186 and 452 of the IPC against Balwan Singh who was later arrested.

SONEPAT
URGED: Former Haryana Minister and senior Congress leader, Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, on Thursday, urged the Central Government to set up a Military Hospital in Haryana to provide medical aid to the families of the serving Army personnel and ex-servicemen in the state. In a communication sent to the Defence Minister, a copy of which was released to the press here Mr Hooda said it was the high time the Central Government should open a Military Hospital in the state. He also demanded more quota for the people of the state for recruitment in the Army.

STABBED: Ram Chander (47) was allegedly killed by his neighbour at Panchi Jatan village, 10 km from here, on Wednesday. According to reports, Ram Chander was going to fetch drinking water from the public stand-post when he was attacked with a knife by his neighbourer and his daughter. A case has been registered. The alleged assailants are missing and hunt is on to apprehend them.

BAL MELA: The Haryana State Social Welfare Board is organising a three-day state-level Bal Mela commencing from November 11 on the campus of the local Hindu Girls College. Ms Lajwanti, Chairperson of the board, said here on Thursday that children from all over the state would take part in this mela which would be inaugurated by Ms Mridula Sinha, Chairperson of the All-India Social Welfare Board.

CONVENTION: The Haryana State National ex-Servicemen Coordination Committee is organising its three-day state-level convention from Friday at the local Shambhu Dayal Modern School. According to an official press note, delegates from all over the country will take part in the convention.

DEMONSTRATION: Shopkeepers of the Ram Bazaar Market Association held a demonstration in front of the Kumahran Gate power sub-station here on Wednesday in protest against the erratic power supply and indifferent attitude of the authorities.

LOK ADALAT: As many as 24,229 cases have been disposed of in 63 lok adalats held so far in this district. This was stated here by Mr S.K. Sardana, District and Sessions Judge, while addressing a seminar organised on the occasion of the National Legal Service Day.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
EDUCATION: Mr T.D. Negi, the Deputy Commissioner here, on Thursday said Rs 5.18 crore had been spent on the development of primary and general education in the district. He said Rs 9.15 crore had been earmarked to strengthen educational network under Rs 23.96 crore Backward Area Sub-Plan during the current fiscal year.

SHIMLA
INAUGURATED: The State Bank of Patiala installed its first ATM in the state at the local Mall Branch here on Wednesday. Inaugurating the machine, Ms Asha Swaroop, Financial Commissioner-cum-Finance-Secretary said the Himachal Pradesh Government appreciated the effort of banks in providing round-the-clock cash withdrawal facility to customers.