R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMLOH
MEETING: A meeting of the Fatehgarh Sahib unit of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) was held under the presidentship of Mr Ranjit Singh Mianpur here on Thursday. It was decided to participate in a dharna which will be staged in front of Parliament House on July 30 and thereafter to participate in the protest march under the leadership of Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President Akali Dal (Amritsar). The protest is being organised for the release of prisoners lingering in jails. 

PLEA: Mr Lal Singh Tohra, district president of the All-India Rangretta Dal, in a press note issued here on Thursday urged the Congress high command that the party ticket for the Assembly elections of the Amloh reserve constituency should be given to a candidate from the dal. 

DHARNA: The struggle committee of PSEB employees of Amloh division staged a dharna in front of the PSEB’s Xen’s office at Amloh on Wednesday against the partial behaviour of the Superintending Engineer. Mr Prithipal Singh, president of the committee, said the agitation would be intensified and rallies would be held at Bhadson, Amloh and Tohra on July 20, 25 and 23, respectively. 

AMRITSAR
PARALLEL LANGAR: A parallel langar being organised adjacent to Bir Baba Budha, about 18 km from here, has irked the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). A spokesman for the committee in a press note here on Wednesday said the management of the gurdwara was taken over by the SGPC from Baba Darshan Singh some time ago. However, certain unauthorised persons had been collecting rations and offerings from Sikh devotees.

FEROZEPORE
TREE PLANTATION: The local Satluj Lions Club launched a sapling plantation drive here on Wednesday in which more than 100 saplings were planted. This was stated by Mr I.M. Goyal, president of the club. The Divisional Forest Officer, Mr Karmjeet Singh, while presiding over the function, emphasised the importance of plantation-for a pollution free-surroundings.

RALLY HELD: The Punjab Subordinate Services Federation held a rally in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner in support of their demands. Mr Mohinder Singh, senior vice-president, said issues like indefinite fast by ETT teachers, action against lecturers in Dev Samaj College and unjustified transfers of various employees were also discussed.

GURDASPUR
INUNDATED: More than 100 acres under cultivation at Gadarian village in the district have been inundated due to recent rain in the area. This was stated by Mr Sham Singh, sarpanch, here on Wednesday. Owners of the land had never been paid compensation due to damage caused to crops by rain, he added.

HOSHIARPUR
TRAFFIC BLOCKED: As per the decision of the Punjab and UT Joint Employees Action Committee and the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation, Government employees of the district blocked traffic at Prabhat Chowk here from 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday. Earlier, they held a dharna in front of the district courts in protest against the anti-employee policies of the state government.

SUICIDE BID: Prisoner Malkiat Singh of Pandori Nijran village tried to commit suicide in district jail here on Tuesday. A case under Sections 309 and 511, IPC, has been registered.

STOLEN: A .12-bore gun jewellery worth Rs 20,000, and Rs 5,000 in cash were stolen from the house of Satkartar Singh of Kollowal village on Tuesday. A case has been registered.

BOOKED: On the complaint of Ms Pritam Kaur of Talwandi Salan village, the police has registered a case against Sanjiv Safri of Tanda for abducting her grand daughter Rupinder Kaur (21) on Tuesday.

JALANDHAR
BOYCOTTED: College lecturers of Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union on Wednesday boycotted classes and held a dharna in front of the offices of their respective principals in protest against the indifferent attitude of the state government towards their demands.

TB DETECTION CAMP: The district health authorities organised a free TB detection camp at the Bhargo Camp locality here on Wednesday. More than 500 persons were examined and the needy patients were provided medicines free of cost.

KHARAR
MONEY LOOTED: A sum of Rs 50,000 was looted from a scooter on Thursday. Mr Sher Singh, a sweet shop owner near the bus stand, on the old Morinda road, said he had withdrawn the sum from the Punjab National Bank and had kept it in his scooter. Later, as he entered the shop he found out that the lock of the tool compartment of the scooter was broken and the amount was missing. 

TWO HELD: The local police on Thursday arrested two persons, following the recovery of 32 bottles of foreign-made and Indian liquor, which was meant for sale in Chandigarh. The police has registered a case under the Excise Act.

LUDHIANA
COMPENSATION ENHANCED: Mr Mall Singh Ghuman, Chairman, Punjab Marketing Board, stated near here on Wednesday that the Punjab Government had paid Rs 12 crore in the past two years as compensation to victims of agricultural accidents. He was addressing a gathering at Baurhai Kalan village, near Ahmedgarh. The Badal government had enhanced the compensation for thrasher accident victims from Rs 30,000 to 75,000. Talking about the marketing board’s plans, he said that three plants for generating power from garbage would be set up at Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar at a cost of Rs 1.8 crore. Later, Mr Ghuman laid the foundation stone for approach roads Momnabad and Saharan Majra, Baurhai Khurd and Baurhai Kalan and Maholi and Brahma. 

MACHHIWARA
MEETING: To stop the sale of drugs falling under the NDPS Act, a meeting of the police and the local chemist association was held here under the chairmanship of the DSP, Samrala, Mr Sushil Kumar, on Wednesday. Mr Jaswinder Singh, SHO, Machhiwara, provided a lost of 106 drugs falling under the NDPS Act to the chemists. 

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Chemist Association president — Mr Daljit Singh; patron; Dr Dharamveer; secretary Mr Rajiv Jain; cashier Mr Sunil Sharma and chief advisor Mr Satinder Paul Singh. 

POSTPONED: Mr Harjinder Jakhu, national general secretary of the SAD (A), said all activities of the party had been postponed for 10 days following the sudden demise of party’s acting chief, Prof Sukhjinder Singh, today. Sukhjinder Singh had been under going treatment for blood cancer in Mohan Dai Oswal Hospital at Ludhiana. 

NAWANSHAHR
FUNCTION HELD: Dr Upinder Jit Kaur, Housing and Urban Development Minister, while presiding over a function at Chhagauri village, about 25 km from here, on Tuesday said the government had constructed an administrative complex at Jalandhar and foundation stones of administrative complexes to be built at Bathinda, Sangrur, Patiala and Moga had been laid.

PROTEST MARCH: The unemployed ETT teachers on Wednesday held a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here and blocked traffic in protest against the decision of the government to appoint B.Ed teachers to posts of ETT teacher. 

SAMRALA
DEAD: Santo Devi (106), mother of Swami Shiva Nand Puri Ji Maharaj, founder of Chaurasi Pauris Wala Mandir , here, died on Wednesday. Jathedar Kirpal Singh Khirnian, Mr Jasbir Singh Jassi, Mr Kuldeep Khullar and Mr Jeon Singh Dhindsa, among others, attended the funeral on Thursday.

CHANDIGARH

STAND REITERATED: The Chandigarh Auto Mechanics Federation on Thursday reiterated that it would not call off its tool down strike and fast-unto-death until their demands were accepted. A press note issued by the federation said they had requested the Administration to reach an understanding in writing. It claimed that Mr Harvinder Singh was forcibly lifted by the police. However, Mr Ravinder Singh sat on fast-unto-death with Mr Dwarika Prasad, Mr Dharam Pal, Mr Naresh Kumar, Mr Bhupinder Singh and Mr Sewa Singh. The press note claimed that former Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Harmohan Dhawan, and his companions, Mr Devinder Singh Babla, Mr O.P. Verma, Mr Sandeep singh and Rakesh Singh, had visited them. All of them supported the on going agitation of mechanics.

HARYANA

AMBALA
CHURA POST SEIZED: The Ambala range police has seized 102 kg chura post from Talheri village. The Inspector-General of Police, Mr H.S. Ahlawat, said that a police team raided a house in the village and seized 102 kg chura post from Sardool Singh, who has been arrested. He had hidden the chura post in the fields, a release said.

JIND
LOOT BID: Two car-borne armed youths looted Rs 25,000 from a liquor vend at Pillukhera village in the district on Tuesday. Employees of the vend and the robbers reportedly exchanged fire in which two persons working in the fields received bullet injuries. The car of the robbers met with an accident, but they ran away leaving the looted money and the car.

KURUKSHETRA
SANCTIONED: The Haryana Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 3.08 crore for development works in the Pehowa constituency of the district. Stating this here on Wednesday, the Agriculture Minister, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, added that out of the amount, Rs 2.95 crore had already been released under the Haryana Rural Development Fund.

PANIPAT
THEFT INCIDENTS: More than 12 incidents of theft in shops, business premises and factory godowns have been reported from various parts of the town during the past three days. Burglars reportedly struck at six shops in Pachranga Bazar on Sunday. They broke into a godown of readymade clothes on the Chulkana road on Monday and took away clothes worth Rs 60,000. Ornaments and other valuables worth Rs 2 lakh were also stolen from the residence of a junior engineer with the Railways.

CAMP FOR DISABLED: The District Red Cross Society and the Sri Mahaveer Viklang Sahayta Samiti, Jaipur, will organise a 10-day welfare camp for the disabled at the local Bal Bhavan. Stating this, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr M.R. Anand, added that the camp would be held from August 5 to 14 and around 200 disabled persons would be provided with callipers, tri-cycles, wheel chairs and crutches every day.

LOAN SANCTIONED: A loan of Rs 2.34 crore has been sanctioned by the National Capital Region Planning Board for the laying of RCC roads in the Panipat and Samalkha towns. The Executive Officer of the local Municipal Council, Mr Shiv Kumar Vats, said the loan would be spent on the laying of about 50 roads and streets in Old Housing Board Colony, the Railway road, the Salarganj Gate - main bazar road and Adarsh Colony on the Assandh road.

ROHTAK
MOVE CONDEMNED: A move to constitute an officers’ club for the non-teaching staff of or above the rank of a superintendent has been widely condemned by the non-teaching employees of Maharshi Dayanand University. Mr Ranjit Malik, president of the MDU Non-Teaching Employees Association, on Wednesday termed the move as an attempt to divide the non-teaching employees and requested the Vice-Chancellor, Major-Gen Bhim Singh Suhag (retired), to review the decision.

SONEPAT
2 KILLED: Two persons were killed and three injured when a canter hit a jeep near Bari village, about 15 km from here, on Wednesday. One of the victims has been identified as Navin of Rohtak. A case has been registered against the driver of the canter who is absconding.

BURIED ALIVE: Two labourers were reportedly buried alive while digging earth at Thaira village, about 5 km from here, on Wednesday. Some JCB machines and cranes were pressed into service to retrieve the bodies.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

DALHOUSIE
DRUNKARDS MENACE: The use of liquor in dhabas at the bus terminus of Banikhet town has caused resentment among passengers. Drunkards often misbehave with passengers and tourists. Some passengers have complained to the Chief Minister in this connection.

BILASPUR
DEMANDED: A meeting of the district executive committee of the HP State Class IV Health Department Employees Association was held under the presidentship of Mr Thakur Dass, district president. It demanded that the employees who had completed 10 years’ service should be promoted clerks and those who had passed the 8th class examination be promoted dressers or laboratory assistants while fixing their retirement age at 60. A resolution to this effect was passed at the meeting.

DEMANDS CONCEDED: The Director of Education, Himachal Pradesh, Mr O.P. Sharma, has accepted most of the demands of the Himachal Pradesh State Education Department Class IV Employees Union and ordered the District Education Officer to fulfil all demands of the district unit of the union. This was stated by union’s state president Amar Singh Chandel here on Tuesday.

AGITATION: The state unit of the CPI has decided to launch a statewide agitation against the imposition of user charges and fees for medical tests by the BJP government at hospitals and health institutions in the state. CPI state secretary Bhaga Singh Verma said here on Wednesday that the party would stage a dharna on July 24.

KUMARHATTI
GASTROENTERITIS DEATH: Falgu Ram of Badewan village in the Banasar panchayat died of gastroenteritis at District Hospital, Solan, on Tuesday. With this two persons have fallen victim to the disease that had broken out in the panchayat on June 30. Mr A.K. Singh Block Medical Officer, Dharampur, visited the area on Tuesday and said the situation was now under control.

NURPUR
INAUGURATED: The Union Government has sanctioned Rs 9 crore for providing potable water of which Rs 5 crore had been spent on sinking hand-pumps in Himachal Pradesh. This was stated by Mr Ramesh Dawala, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, while inaugurating a drinking water supply scheme at Atahra in the Gangath assembly segment of this subdivision on Tuesday.

PARWANOO
HEALTH CAMP: The local ESI Hospital organised a one-day health camp for the industrial workers and their families on the hospital premises here on Thursday. During the camp, women were given important information concerning their health. Dr Ratan Chand, told people about the diseases, which were likely in rainy season. He added that the diseases spread due to contaminated water and unhygienic food. He said it was important to take nutritious food to keep body and mind fit. Over 200 ESI cardholders took part in the camp. Free consultation and medicines were also distributed to the sick patients. Those who attended the camp included Dr Krishna Nath, Dr Vinod Kapil, Dr Kavita Sharma, Dr Brind Kapil, Dr Jyoti Kapil, Dr Siddharth Vats, Dr Renu Vats and Dr Rana. Members of the Parwanoo Industries Association also took part in the camp. 

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local Chemist and Druggist Association in a meeting held at Himani Hotel under the Chairmanship of Bihari Lal Gupta, state general secretary. president — Mr O.P. Ghai; general secretary — Mr C.S. Thakur; junior vice-president — Mr S.S. Jhina; vice-presidents — Mr T.C. Kaushal and Mr Krishana Murti; joint secretaries — Mr Rajesh Jain and Mr Arun Trehan; and treasurer — Mr Neeraj Mittal. In the meeting, the members criticised the government policies by monopolising the sale of medicines on the hospital premises by the Civil Supplies Corporation only and not caring for the interests of chemists of the state.