R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
SHSAD CONFERENCE: A conference will be organised on July 7 at Fatehgarh Sahib by the Sarv Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) to highlight the unnecessary political interference in religious matters. Mr Sukhdev Singh Libra, member Rajya Sabha, while addressing a meeting here on Friday, accused the state government of denigrating the Sikh sidhants for its political motives. Among others, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president SHSAD, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary, Mr Karnail Singh Panjoli, president youth wing, and leaders from Delhi and Haryana will address the conference, he said. Mr Kirpal Singh Libra former chairman PUNSUP while making a scathing attack on the present government in the state said it had failed on all fronts, it had no planning at all. All classes including farmers, traders, employees, shopkeepers, transporters, workers were dissatisfied with the policies of the government.

FOUR HELD: The local police parties nabbed 4 persons on Friday. According to FIR (No 62, 63 and 64) Kamal Singh, Tilak Raj and Jaswinder were arrested from different places under Section 13A, 3/67 of the Gambling Act. While Charanjit was arrested earlier under the same Act. In another case, Vimla Rani (45) mother of three children, was arrested under Section 109 Cr PC and sent to Central Jail Patiala.

JAGRAON
LAUNCHED: Tata Infotech Training Centre launched their new educational programme ‘Ambition’ on Sunday. The programme was launched by Mr Jasdev Singh Sidhu, DSP. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sukhdev Garg, Director, said the centre had 100 students on the rolls within two months of its establishment.

LUDHIANA
CAMP ORGANISED: A free counselling camp for cosmetic treatment was organised at Pasricha Cosmetic Laser Centre here on Sunday. Dr Puneet Pasricha, director of the centre, in a press note said patients were given free consultation and counselling regarding elimination of unwanted hair, birthmarks and ugly spots on body and face. Dr Pasricha claimed that the technology for the treatment of Portwine stains, hemangioma, vascular lesions, ugly scars, black patches and pigment lesions was absolutely painless.

SEMINAR: The Punjab Internet Users Club and Advance Training System conducted a seminar on “C++& Microsoft. Net Framework” at ATS computer centre here on Sunday. Dalwin, a professional from ATS, New Delhi, shared his ideas and opinions with students and faculty members. He said C++ was a highly advanced programming language and Microsoft. Net was an integrated platform for various applications and programming languages. Nearly 50 students and faculty members attended the seminar.

NAWANSHAHR
POPPY HUSK SEIZED: Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, in a press note here on Friday said the police had arrested Balbir Singh, alias Lala, of Jabbowal village and seized two bags of poppy husk from him. It also arrested Darshana, alias Mauli, of Mehandipur village and seized 30 kg of poppy husk from her. Cases under Sections 15, 61 and 85, NDPS Act, had been registered against them.

ARRESTED: The police has arrested Hari Ram of Mubarakpur village, who was wanted in a case of snatching of tractor-trailer after he injured Kulbir Singh of Mubarakpur village in April. Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, stated this in a press note on Friday.

DUPING CASE: The police has registered a case against unauthorised travel agents — Hans Raj Kalsi and his brother Harpal Singh of Kataria village — for allegedly duping Udho Ram of Bharoli village and Sukhdev of Atari village of Rs 2.50 lakh each, for sending their sons abroad.

PROGRESSIVE FARMERS: A seven-member delegation of progressive farmers led by Mr Mohinder Singh Dosanjh, convener, District Crop Diversification and Produce Marketing Society, visited the Herbal Crops Research Institute, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University and the Herbal Crops Research Centre, Joginder Nagar, with a view to learning about herbal crops and other alternative crops. This was stated by Mr Dosanjh on Friday.

PATIALA
PROBLEMS HIGHLIGHTED: The Century Enclave has no arrangement for cleaning of roads and sewerage system, improper water supply and other problems related with streetlights. This was stated by a deputation of the Century Enclave Phase-III Welfare Society that met Mr K.S. Kang, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, here on Sunday to discuss the demands as well as various problems of the colony. The residents complained that they have to face many difficulties during the rainy season. Mr Kang said the corporation was facing certain financial problems but he assured that priority will be given to these problems due to which the residents were suffering. The deputation also met Sub-Divisional Engineer, PSEB, regarding fluctuation and irregular supply of electricity in the area. The deputation also demanded three phase supply of electricity in the area.

PHAGWARA
STRIKE THREAT: Mr Manmohan Sharma, Senior Municipal Councillor, threatened on Friday to start an indefinite fast outside the council office if the tenders for various development projects were cancelled. He gave a one-week ultimatum to the council.

PHILLAUR
EMBEZZLEMENT: The police has arrested Ram Lal, sarpanch, Raipur Raian village and Harmesh Lal, member panchayat, on a charge of embezzling the grants of the village, given by the state government through the block development office. The police said both the culprits embezzled the grant of Rs 1, 26,545 from a bank. The arrests were made under Sections 406, 409, 34 and 420, IPC.

SUICIDE: Gagandeep Singh (13), allegedly committed suicide by consuming celphos tablets at Dhesian Kanna village on Friday.

RAJPURA
SAFETY PROJECT: The tractor- trailor safety projects organised by the Innerwheel Club, Rajpura, culminated here on Sunday. This programme, which continued for a week, had been launched on June 24 by the Innerwheel Club in cooperation with the Rajpura police and the Rotary club. More than 20 members of the Innerwheel Club stopped the tractor-trailers passing by to mark them with flourescent reflector paint.

YATRIS LEAVE FOR AMARNATH: Former State Minister, Raj Khurana showed green flag to eight buses leaving for Amarnath. Yatris were wished good luck by the people who were gathered at the Arya Samaj Mandir to bid farewell to the yatris.

LIQUOR SEIZED: As a part of the drive launched by the police here, large quantity of liquor being smuggled into the town was seized. The raids were carried out under the DSP, Rajpura, Mr R. K. Sharma. About 4,800 pouches of the local whisky brand were seized. The police party arrested driver Baldev Singh of Chandi Mandir, who was smuggling these pouches from Haryana in a dramatic manner.

BOOKED: On a secret information, the CIA staff, Rajpura, had put barricades all around the city. At the Rajpura-Chandigarh road, a person who was riding a motorcycle (HR-06-3488) which, upon inquiry was found to be a fake number. A case of theft has been registered against him.

EMBEZZLEMENT: A case of embezzlement worth Rs 2.63 lakh has surfaced in the depot of Punjab Roadways, Patti. A case under Sections 409 and 120B, IPC, has been registered. Dr S.K. Kalia, SP (Detective), disclosed this here on Friday.

CHANDIGARH

TERMINATED: Following approval by the Union Health Minister, the PGI Director has terminated services of Ms Saraswati Bai, an Operation Theatre Assistant (OTA) in the Anaesthesia Department. The PGI Director had decided to sack her after she was found unfit for confirmation following adverse reports by the Head of Anaesthesia Department. She had served her one month’s notice on April 23 this year. Ms Saraswati Bai had appealed to the Union Health Minister against this decision who ordered a stay. However, a few days back, the Health Minister endorsed the PGI Director’s decision and recommended to pursue termination of the OTA.

HARYANA

AMBALA
CHATURMAS: Jain muni Saurabh Sagarji and Jain muni Prabal Sagarji will be holding ‘Chaturmas’ in Ambala. Elaborate arrangements have been made to receive them on Monday at Ambala Cantonment. Chaturmas will start on July 4 with the setting up of Mangal Kalash. The Jain community is eagerly looking forward to the first Chaturmas of this millennium, a release said. Shri Digambar Jain Sabha’s Mr R.C. Jain informed that on Monday at 4 p.m. near the Tangri bridge, the Jain munis will be accorded a grand welcome by the Ambala Cantonment MLA, Mr Anil Vij, and the Jain community. He said that on July 4 at 8 a.m. the Mangal Kalash will be set up in the Jain girls school in Rai Market. Mr Jain said that a Varshayog samiti has been formed, with 16 sub-committees each having different responsibilities. He said that Jain munis will be holding discourses at Jain Mandir in Gur Bazar.

VIKAS PARISHAD MEETING: A crucial meeting of Vikas Parishad was held under the presidentship of Ambala Cantonment MLA, Mr Anil Vij, at the PWD Rest House on Sunday. The parishad members expressed concern over the deteriorating civic conditions. They said that unlike past years when the major drains of the area had been cleaned up to ensure that flooding does not take place, this year the Gurguria nullah and other nullahs are still to be cleared up. A member observed that a serious situation could emerge during heavy rainfall since the cleaning up has not taken place.

BHIWANI
MISCREANT ARRESTED: The police has arrested a miscreant who had been involved in numerous cases of theft, murder, attempt to murder and loot around Delhi and Rohtak and has seized a .315-bore pistol from his possession. Stating this here on Saturday, the Superintendent of Police, Dr Suman Manjri, said Bijender, alias Leela, of Kharak Kalan village was nabbed by a police party near the Chang Rod airstrip. He was arrested under Sections 25,54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

KURUKSHETRA
NATIONAL SEMINAR: Kurukshetra University will organise a two-day national seminar on the life, ideology and contributions of the former Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Devi Lal, at the university campus here from Monday. Mr R.S. Chaudhry, Vice-Chancellor, said on Friday that Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala would be the chief guest.

SONEPAT
RAID: A police party carried out a raid on a cinema hall here on Friday to stop the screening of ‘Gadar’. According to official sources, the police acted on a complaint that the management of the cinema hall was screening the movie without the copyright. However, during scrutiny, the management was found to have the relevant papers signed by the City Magistrate.

ASSAULT: A group of persons attacked those of a rival group outside the office of the Superintendent of Police here on Friday. The suspects were stated to be the members of the in-laws’ family of a woman, who were summoned in a dowry harassment case by the SP.

BODY FOUND: The Ganaur police found a headless body of a man between 30 and 35 years of age from Bajana Kalan village, 25 km from here, on Friday. A case has been registered.

SUICIDE: Naresh of Kharanti village reportedly committed suicide by consuming celphos tablets near Fatehpur village, 15 km from here, on Friday. The youth had come to the house of his wife to take her back, but on being refused he consumed the tablets.

CASE REGISTERED: Manju, a housewife, reportedly committed suicide by taking insecticide tablets in her house at Gumar village, 25 km from here, on Friday. The police, however, has registered a case of dowry death. The parents of the victim lodged an FIR alleging that the members of the family of her in-laws were harassing her.

THEFT: Thieves reportedly entered a shop on the Sonepat-Mahlana road here on Friday and decamped with goods worth Rs 35,000 from it.

KILLED: An employee of the DDA was killed when he was hit by a Haryana Roadways bus on the Kharkhauda-Bahadurgarh road, 25 km from here, on Friday. The police has registered a case against the driver of the bus.

ONE KILLED: A cyclist was killed on the spot when he was hit by a truck on the GT Road near Ganaur, about 20 km from here, on Saturday. According to a report, the victim has been identified as Vishnu of Ganaur. The truck driver, however, managed to escape. A case has been registered.

FOUR INJURED: Four persons, including a woman, were seriously injured when a Tata 407 collided with a Maruti van on the Sonepat-Gohana road near the district jail here on Saturday. The injured were immediately hospitalised and are stated to be out of danger. The police has impounded the Tata 407 and a case has been registered against its driver.

HELD FOR GAMBLING: The task force constituted by the Inspector General of Police, Rohtak Range, Mr Resham Singh, carried out raids on the stalls of lottery sellers in different parts of the city on Saturday and arrested three persons on the charge of ‘satta’ (gambling) in the garb of lotteries. According to a report, the arrested persons have been identified as Harish, Sandeep and Vijay.

ARRESTED: The police arrested Jai Bhagwan, alias Kala, of Butana village for allegedly being in possession of a country-made pistol on Saturday. A case under the Indian Arms Act has been registered against him.

ENCROACHMENTS: The demolishing squad of the district and civic administration started an anti-encroachment campaign on Saturday night and removed encroachments on both sides of the road near Panchayat Bhavan here.

YAMUNANAGAR
ROADWAYS STIR: Employees of Haryana Roadways of the local depot did not allow the plying of buses for two hours on Friday morning in protest against the new overtime policy of the state government. The statement was resolved when the union leaders met Mr Narinder Singh, general manager of the depot.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
CASES SETTLED: As many as 408 cases of grievances of farmers were settled in a subdivisional-level “prashashan janta ke dwar shivir” held at Bhakra, under the chairmanship of the Subdivisional Magistrate, Mr Rakesh Dhiman on Friday. Mr Dhiman said 44 affidavits, 13 Wills, 33 mutations of land, 103 various types of certificates and 140 driving licences were also issued.

KULU
LOAN FOR HOSPITAL: The Department of Health Services is planning to raise a loan of Rs 5 crore from HUDCO for the construction of the second phase of the Zonal Hospital building here. This was stated by Dr Sukh Ram Chauhan, Director, Health Services, Himachal Pradesh, who was on an inspection visit to the Hospital on Saturday.

NAHAN
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Sirmour District Chemists and Druggists Association: president — Dr Prahalad Singh Choudhry; general secretary — Mr G.R. Puri; and treasurer — Mr Arjun Khurana.

SHIMLA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Shimla Club: president — Mr Narinder Kataria; vice-president — Mr J.L. Malhotra; secretary — Mr I.S.Ghezta; joint secretary — Mr H.S. Gulati and treasurer — Mr Sudhir Chawla.