R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BATHINDA
RESULTS: Vivek Gupta, Kanwalpreet Singh and Nancy Gupta of Bhucho Mandi won first three positions in the district in the Class V examinations conducted by the Punjab School Education Board. Vivek Gupta with 90.67 per cent marks stood first and Kanwalpreet Singh stood second followed by Nancy Gupta.

DORAHA
9 INJURED: As many as nine occupants of a Tata Sumo and an Esteem were injured as a result of a collision between the two, near Doraha yesterday evening. According to sources, a Tata Sumo (number HR204-5263), coming from Jalandhar to Delhi, carrying Harbhajan Singh and Harbans Kaur of Lamba village and Joginder Singh, Darshan Singh, Jasbir Singh and Tikku of Jalandhar Cantonment collided with an Esteem (number PB10N-0072), coming from Khanna to Ludhiana. The occupants of the car were Intzaar, Arun, Iklat and Varinder of Heera Nagar, Ludhiana. The first aid team of Doraha, under the command of ASI Harbans Singh, immediately reached the spot and admitted all the injured occupants, to the nearby Sidhu Hospital. While others have sustained minor injuries, Jasbir Singh is reported to be serious.

GURDASPUR
MEDICAL CAMP: As many as 180 persons suffering from cardiac ailments were examined at a medical camp here on Sunday. The camp was organised by the management of Sardari Lal Santosh Rani Hospital here and Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi. About 114 ECGs and 60 Echo Cardiographics were taken free of cost.

HOSHIARPUR
HARASSMENT CASE: On the complaint of Chandermani, daughter of Suresh Chander of the Takki Gali Committee bazaar here, the police on Saturday registered a case under Section 498-A and 406, IPC, against her husband Balwinder Singh, father-in-law Sohan Singh, mother-in-law Surjit Kaur and sister-in-law Rajwinder Kaur. She alleged that her in-laws used to torture her for more dowry.

SUICIDE: Sandip Kaur, wife of Devinder Kumar of Tajpur village, reportedly committed suicide by taking poisonous pills on Saturday. It is learnt that she was suffering from some serious disease.

ROBBED: Deputy Ranger Harbans Lal (retd) has lodged a complaint with the police that his scooter and Rs 8,000 were taken away while he was going to his village, Dhugga Kalan, on scooter from Garhdiwala on Saturday. He said he fell from his scooter in an inebriated state near Ambala Jattan. When he gained consciousness, he found Rs 8,000 and his scooter missing. He alleged some unidentified persons pushed him and stole the money and scooter. A case has been registered.

1 KILLED: Amarjit Singh of Khud village was killed and his wife seriously injured on Saturday when a Maruti car hit their scooter near Kurala Kalan village. A case has been registered.

JAGRAON
SEIZED: Mr Rajesh Kumar SHO, City, arrested Vijay Kumar s/o Om Parkash r/o Murlibasantpur distt Saharsa (Bihar) between Kotha Khazooran and Aligarh villages and recovered from his possession, 10 kg of poppy husk. The man arrested was residing at Geeta Colony, Jagraon.

OPENING CEREMONY: Mr Bhag Singh, MLA performed the opening ceremony of the newly built Block Primary Education Office, constructed with contributions of the teachers of this block and residents of the area, according to Mr Jaswant Singh B.P.Ed. Important citizens of the town were also present at the occasion.

KHARAR
Body found: The body of a beggar aged about 35 has been recovered by the Kurali police near a residence of Swamiji Nadi Paar Kurali Wale on Monday. According to the police, some intoxicants were recovered from the pocket of the deceased. The body has been sent to Ropar for a post-mortem examination.

LUDHIANA
DISTRIBUTED: The Parshu Ram Book Society distributed textbooks and exercise books among 800 needy students at a function held at Swami Rup Chand Jain Senior Secondary School, Jagraon. A cultural program was also organised. Prominent among those present at the function were Mr S.S. Arora, District and Sessions Judge, Mr S.L. Kler, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Bhushan Singh Kanda, President, Jagraon Citizen Welfare Council, Mr Raj Kumar, Chairman and Mr Vikram Sharma, President, Book Bank Society.

700 VACCINATED: The Rotary Club of Ludhiana North organised a free hepatitis-B vaccination camp at Kesar Vir Hospital, Haibowal, here on Sunday. A team of doctors comprising Dr Jaspal Singh and Dr Narinder Toor administered vaccine to around 700 persons, including children, according to Mr Ravinder Kumar Singhania, General Secretary of the club.

ANNUAL DAY FUNCTION: Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), Governor of Punjab, will preside over the annual day function of the Ludhiana Management Association (LMA) here on May 20. According to Mr S.K. Rai, President, LMA, Mr K.V. Kamath, Managing Director and CEO, ICICI, and Mr Brooke Unger, South Asia Bureau Chief, The Economist, will deliver the keynote addresses.

EMPLOYEES' FEDERATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Employees Federation of Punjab State Electricity Board (West Circle, Ludhiana City): President — Mr Rajinder Singh Virk; Senior Vice-President — Mr Kiranpal Singh, Vice-President — Mr Sohan Singh; Secretary — Mr Bogha Singh Grewal; General Secretary — Mr Gurditta Singh; Press Secretary — Mr Harinder Singh Bhangu; and Finance Secretary — Mr Kishor Chand Sharma. Similarly, the following have been elected office-bearers of the Eastern Circle, Ludhiana, of the federation: President — Mr Dalbir Singh Grewal; Senior Vice-President — Mr Ram Lubhaia, Vice-Presidents — Mr Pritam Singh Gill and Mr Rajesh Thukral; Secretary — Mr Chamkor Singh Baghi; General Secretary — Mr Kulwant Singh; Press Secretary — Mr Jaspal Singh; and Finance Secretary — Mr Jarnail Singh.

VACCINATION CAMP: A vaccination camp for the third and final dose of hepatitis-B was organised at Sarabha Nagar New Senior Secondary School on Monday. The students were given the first dose on November 6, 2000, and the second on December 15, 2000. More than 100 students and teachers were given the third dose. The office-bearers of the Rotary Club assured the school administration that they would continue to hold such camps in future.

MALERKOTLA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Guru Ravi Dass Social Welfare Club, Khedi Kalan village: president — Mr Rajinder Singh; vice-president — Mr Darshan Singh; general secretary — Mr Nariyan Singh and treasurer — Mr Jagroop Singh.

BLOOD DONATION: The Bharat Vikas Parishad organised a blood donation camp at Kundan Lal Hospital, Ahmedgarh, on Sunday. The president of the Blood Donors Society, Dr R.P. Singla, said 50 persons had donated blood.

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION: The local Educational and Welfare Society organised a prize distribution function of Islamia High School here on Sunday. Mr Nusrat Ali Khan, Cabinet Minister, presided over the function and distributed prizes. The minister announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the school.

PATIALA
SCHOLARSHIPS: The Punjab Elementary Education Project (PEEP), working under the aegis of the Nishkam Sikh Welfare Council, New Delhi, has decided to institute 20 scholarships of the monthly value of Rs 150 each to be awarded to Class VI of government schools of Patiala district. Dr T.R. Sharma, chairman PEEP committee, said the selection of the students for the scholarships would be made on the basis of a test consisting of only one composite type question paper of two hours. The test will be conducted in Government Multi-Purpose Senior Secondary School, here on June 1. 

OFFICE-BEARERS: Mr Lal Chand Jindal has been elected as president of the Sanatan Dharam Sabha. The other office-bearers are: vice-presidents —Mr Vijay Mohan Gupta, Dr Sohan Lal and Mr Ram Dass; general secretary — Mr Madan Mohan Sayal; and press secretary — Mr Om Prakash Sharma.

SAMRALA
POET HONOURED: Noted poet Lal Singh Dil was honoured by Gram Panchayat, Sohora, near here, on Sunday evening, with the collaboration of Naujawan Sabha and Nav Lekhak Manch Rara Sahib. The function was presided over by Jarnail Singh Sarpanch, Darshan Singh Kuhli and Paramjit Singh Sihora. Dr Gulzar Mohammed Goria presented a paper regarding the poet’s personality and poetry. Dr Gulzar Pandher, Mr Sukhwinder Rampuri, Narinder Gill, Krishan Bhanot and various other prominent poets expressed their views regarding Dil’s contribution to the Punjabi poetry. A poetic recitation was also held on this occasion.

CHANDIGARH

HONOURED: Residents of Palsora colony and residents of Sector 55 honoured the headmaster of Government High School, Sector 40, Mr Bahadur Singh, for his projects to provide free education to slum children. On this occasion a welfare programme was organised for handicapped children. Cultural programmes were also presented by children. 

HARYANA

BHIWANI
ARRESTED: Sanjay (Laloo) and Vijender of Mandhana village have been arrested on the charge of looting jewellery and cash from a car driver last week. The police said the accused had hired a car from Sirsa. They threatened the driver with a knife near Mandhana village and robbed him.

SUICIDE: Neeta (18), wife of Rajesh of Bamla village, took poison due to unknown reasons while Renu (22), wife of Satish of Ranila village, consumed pesticide on Sunday morning. Both have been admitted to the Civil Hospital in serious condition.

BOOKED: A case has been registered against a bookseller for allegedly selling books violation of the Copyright Act. According to sources, the police raided a bookshop at Hansi Gate and seized the books. The owner of the shop has been booked under Section 420-120 B of the IPC and Section 63 of the Copyright Act 14, 1957.

SUICIDE BID: Surender, an accused in a case of dacoity, attempted to commit suicide by hitting his head against the gate of the cell at Sadar Police Station here on Sunday. The constable on duty overpowered him and got him medically examined. A case has been registered against him under Section 309 of the IPC.

SUICIDE: Rajpal (30) of Jui village near here hanged himself to death at his house on Saturday.

FIRE: As many as 56 bales of gunny bags were reduced to ashes at the Buwani Khera grain market. The cause of the fire is stated to be short circuit. According to reports, a truck loaded with gunny bags arrived at the market and these caught fire. A fire tender was rushed from Bhiwani and the fire was controlled.

SONEPAT
TRIBUTES PAID: Tributes were paid to Sqn Ldr Sanjay Gaur by leaders of the RSS, BJP, VHP and other social and religious organisations at a meeting here on Sunday. Squadron Leader Gaur was killed in a plane crash near Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandhlaur on the outskirts of Chennai on May 2.

SESSION CONCLUDES: The two-day delegate session of the Van Mazdoor Karamchari Union, Haryana, affiliated to the state Sarv Karamchari Sangh concluded here on Sunday with a resolution to continue the struggle against the alleged anti-employee attitude of the Central and state governments. More than 600 delegates from all over the state participated.

DANCE COMPETITION: Manav Sewak Sharma and Dixa Bahal from Holy Child Senior Secondary School, Sonepat, were adjudged the best dancers in the inter-school solo dance competition organised by the Rotary Club here on Sunday. Mr T.C. Alakh, president of the club, gave away the prizes to the winners.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

PALAMPUR
STORM: High velocity winds accompanied by light showers lashed the Palampur region on Sunday night causing damage to tea and fruit crop. Hundreds of trees were uprooted. Several parts of the region remained without power for more than 12 hours. According to reports, roofs of more than 100 houses were blown off.