R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

BATHINDA
SECURITY SOUGHT: Mr Rajinder Kumar, president, Bathinda Cement Association, said in a press note here on Friday that more security should be arranged at the Naina Devi shrine in Himachal Pradesh. Anti-social elements had become active in the area, he added.

DORAHA
SHOBHA YATRA: Durga Seva Dal and Durga Welfare Society together took out a shobha yatra from the main market on Thursday. A flag was carried in honour of Mata Naina Devi in the ‘shobha yatra’.

HOSHIARPUR
THREE BOOKED: On a complaint of Dharamvir Singh of Dholbaba village, the police has registered a case under Sections 420 and 120B, IPC, against Santosh Dadwal, her husband, Jagtar Singh Dadwal, and grandfather-in-law Nanak Chand of Janauri on Wednesday for cheating him of Rs 5,82,000 and his passport on a pretext of sending him abroad.

NOTICE TAKEN: The National Human Rights Commission has taken a suo motu notice upon media reports of alleged beating up of an autorickshaw driver Raj Kumar of Circular Road and implicating him in a false case by the Sadar police. Ms Gurpreet Deo, SSP, said she had entrusted an inquiry to the SP (H) in this connection.

KHAMANO
ONE KILLED: Kulwinder Singh (29) a resident of Khamano Mele Wali, was killed in an accident in front of the Octroi post here on Thursday. According to information, he was travelling on a motor cycle (PB-49-5234) towards Khamano when a vehicle hit him. He died on the spot. The Khamano police has registered a case under Sections 304-A, 279, 427, IPC.

LUDHIANA
MEDICAL CAMP: Over 826 patients were examined during a three-day free medical camp held at Dargah Mohammad Gaus Pir, Payal. The camp concluded on Tuesday. The camp was jointly organised by Atri Times Eye Research Foundation and the management of the dargah. Mr Arun Atri, president of the research foundation in a press note said medicines and spectacles were provided to the patients free of cost at the 34th medical camp. Muhammad Alam Ali of the dargah said patients were examined by a panel of specialists which included ophthalmologist, Dr Acchar Singh, orthopaedic surgeon, Dr B.S.Gill, Dr Vikesh Sood, Dr Amarjit Singh, Dr Sonia, Dr Rajesh Arora and Dr Jasbir Singh Bhullar. Mr Atri said people from over 20 villages benefitted from the camp.

SEMINAR: A seminar on advanced stitching technology was organised at Pinnacle Institute of Design and Technology here on Friday. Mr Parminder from JUKI told the students about various stitches and seam specifications used in garment industry. He said there was a great demand for trained manpower in apparel industry. The seminar was attended by students and faculty of the institute in fashion designing, knitwear designing and garment manufacturing courses.

MEETING: The Government Primary Teachers Union, Punjab, held a meeting with Ms Hardial Kaur, DPI (Primary), demanding immediate filling up of vacancies for the posts of teacher. Stating this in a press note, Mr Pritpal Singh, president of the union, said shortage of staff in primary schools was affecting the conducive atmosphere. He said the members also demanded that new policies should be formulated to decrease the drop-out rate in schools. He said that law of compulsory education should be enforced to ensure that all children take primary education. Mr Pritpal Singh said he told the DPI (P) to set up a commission for primary education and check the practice of deputing teachers for non-teaching activities. He said that DPI (P) assured them that she would represent their demands to the government.

MOGA
URGED: While addressing a farmers’ training camp here on Thursday, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kanwalbir Singh Sidhu, urged farmers to take up the cultivation of crops which required less water as the state was facing an acute shortage of water.

NAWANSHAHR
POPPY HUSK SEIZED: Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, in a press note here on Wednesday said the police had seized 140 kg of poppy husk worth Rs 70,000 from the house of Avtar Singh, alias Tari, of Bheen village. A case under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS has been registered.

THREE BOOKED: The police has registered a case under Sections 406 and 429, IPC, against Manjit Lal, Balwinder Kumar of Prem Nagar, Phagwara, and Sukhwant of Balalon village for allegedly duping Harbilas of Behram village of Rs 2.20 lakh on a pretext of sending him abroad. This was stated by Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, in a press note here on Wednesday.

PHAGWARA
TEACHER KILLED: In a hit-and-run case, Vina Rani Sharma, a school teacher, was killed when her scooter was hit by a vehicle at Manak village. She was rushed to the local hospital where she was declared brought dead.

ROPAR
DISTRIBUTED: The Printing and Stationery, Removal of Grievances and Youth Services Minister, Punjab, Ms Satwant Kaur Sandhu, distributed cheques totalling Rs 4.80 lakh among victims of agriculture-related mishaps at a function at the office of the local Market Committee. She said Rs 35 lakh had been earmarked for providing assistance to such victims of the district this year. The Chairman of the committee, Mr Pal Singh, the District Mandi Officer, Mr Chanan Singh, and the District Arhtiya Association vice-president, Mr Hari Parsad, also spoke on the occasion.

TARN TARAN
DHARNA HELD: Teachers of Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Sarhali, a unit of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, on Wednesday staged a dharna in support of their demands. Prof Lakha Singh, president of the unit, condemned the Punjab Government for its indifferent attitude towards the demands of college teachers.

CHANDIGARH

VANAMAHOTSAVA: Staff and students of the Government Middle School, Karsan, Ram Darbar, Chandigarh (U.T.) celebrated vanamahotsava and planted more than 120 saplings in the school compound. School children also organised a colourful function in the school premises. Mrs Kamlesh, Councillor, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, representing the ward was the chief guest. The Parents Teachers Association, the staff and students of the school pledged to nurture the saplings.

HARYANA

AMBALA
PROPOSAL REVIEWED: The Ambala Cantt Traders Federation on Friday held a meeting to review the proposal for imposition of Value Added Tax. The meeting was presided over by Mr N.C. Jain. The federation decided to reject VAT, which is to be introduced in Haryana. Mr N.C. Jain said the Haryana Excise and Taxation Department held a meeting of industrialists and traders on Friday, which was addressed by Mr M. Shankar and Mr Raj Kumar. While addressing the meeting, they said Haryana was planning to impose the Value Added Tax from April 1, 2002. Mr Jain claimed that the department had not made the rules transparent for the traders and industrialists.

MEETING: A gate meeting of the Haryana Roadways Workers Union was held on Friday under the presidentship of Mr Sham Lal Datta. The union members decided to support the proposed strike on Wednesday. They said the BJP-led NDA government was following an anti-people policy. They said in a press note that an attempt was being made to reduce the facilities extended to government employees. The HRWU members stated that retrenchment was taking place and holding back of LTC and changes in pension showed that the government was having an anti-workers policy.

DEMONSTRATION: A demonstration was held by the Haryana Government PWD Mechanical Workers Union under the presidentship of Mr Inderjit Singh. The union members later submitted a charter of demands to the city magistrate. Regional vice-president, Mr Satyapal Verma, and regional press secretary, Mr Labh Singh, said the government must fulfil the demands of the field personnel. They demanded that the loopholes in the service rules be removed and regular employees be confirmed. They also objected to the policy of retrenchment, in a press note.

BHIWANI
LABOURER KILLED: Raj Kumar (22), a labourer, was killed in an accident at a stone crusher at Khanak, 30 km from here. He was rushed to hospital at Hisar where he succumbed to injuries.

DROWNED: Dilwan of Mandoli village was drowned in a pond at the Bagheshwar temple in Baghot village under Charkhi Dadri subdivision while taking a bath before offering obeisance at the temple.

GANG BUSTED: With the arrest of four thieves, the police claims to have busted an inter-state gang of vehicle thieves. Surender, alias Neetu, of Daboda village, Ashok of Leelaheri village, Dharmbir of Kherka Gujjar village, and Kismat of Nazafgarh village, have been arrested and four countrymade pistols and a revolver seized.

KALKA
RESENTMENT: Resident of the town and its surrounding areas are sore over erratic power supply for the past few days. The residents said after a few unscheduled power cuts during the day, there was no power in the town for 5 hours in the evening till midnight on Thursday. The residents said the power cuts had become a daily practice in the town. The residents added that it was very difficult for them to remain without power during the season, when the weather was sultry and hot. Shop-keepers said it was affecting their business very badly.

CELEBRATED: To create awareness among school children, Saint Vivekanand Millenium School celebrated Vanamahotsava on their school premises. Mr S.K. Sharma, general manager of the HMT, Pinjore, was the chief guest on the occasion. While addressing the children, he highlighted the importance of planting trees and said the trees were very important for the health of human beings and gave a clean environment for good health. He also planted a tree on the school premises. Mr Piyush Punj, manager of the school, and Mr Subash Datta, Principal of the school, also emphasised the importance of trees. Painting and slogan writing competition was also organised on the occasion. Kumari Leeza stood first in the painting competition and Satbir Kaur and Nivedita Joshi stood second and third, respectively. In slogan writing competition, Navpreet Kaur bagged first prize, Rachana and Jayoti stood second and third, respectively.

SIRSA
CORPORATOR ARRESTED: The police has arrested Municipal Corporator of the local Ward No. 4 under Sections 353, 332, 186 and 506, IPC, and Section 3 and 4 of the ST/SC Act. The district police chief said here on Wednesday that the secretary of the Municipal Corporation, Ellenabad, Mr Jai Singh, had lodged a complaint against Municipal Corporator Dharam Pal Gumber for allegedly using abusive language, throttling, and threatening to kill him.

DOWRY CASES: The police on Wednesday arrested Sailender Singh of Maujgarh village under Section 304B and 34, IPC, for allegedly harassing his wife and her sister Amarjeet Kaur for dowry. A case has also been registered against Jagtar Singh of Chaksahiba village along with his mother and sister under Section 498/406, IPC. In another case, Mange Ram, his father, mother and grandmother belonging to Randhawa village have been booked in a dowry harassment case under Section 498A, 406, 323 and 34, IPC.

4 SMUGGLERS SENTENCED: Four narcotics smugglers have been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 1 lakh each by the Additional District and Sessions Judge. According to information received on Thursday, the police had seized seven sacks of narcotics from a jeep near the Nohar minor in 1997 and arrested Babbu of Rantanpura, Duni Chand of Parlina, Raju and Mallu Ram of Mallokan village.

SONEPAT
RECOVERED: The police has arrested Vivek Bairagi and Ravinder Kumar Chauhan of Ashok Vihar here and recovered a four-year-old child Mohit, alleged to have been kidnapped by them, of the same area from their possession. This was stated by the Superintendent of Police, Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, here on Friday. A case has been registered.

CHAIN FAST: A chain fast launched by the Haryana Rajkiya Adhyapak Sangh in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here entered its second day on Friday. The sangh has taken the step in protest against the non-acceptance of their demands by the state government.

TENSION ERUPTS: Tension mounted when the president, Mr Rajinder, and other members of the Shree Balaji Samiti allegedly did not allow certain Dalit Kanwarias to enter a temple at Shafiabad village, about 25 km from here, on Thursday. But the police arrived on the scene and brought the situation under control. Later, the president reopened the main gate of the temple and allowed the Dalit Kanwarias to enter it. 

YAMUNANAGAR
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: The following have been elected office-bearers of the National Integrated Medical Association, Jagadhri-Yamunanagar: president — Dr Jai Singh Saini; senior vice- president- Dr Sanjeev Sharma; vice-president — Dr Ramesh Chauhan; general secretary — Dr Pardeep Mahendru; joint secretary — Dr Ravi Kant Sharma; and treasurer — Dr Kuldeep Lamba.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

STRIKE OBSERVED: Members of several unions of taxi operators observed a strike in support of their demands here on Thursday. They blocked traffic on the Circular Road at Lakkar Bazaar and held a rally at the Victory Tunnel. Mr Harish Sethi, president of the joint action committee of various unions, condemned the 10 per cent hike in passenger tax for taxis and 50 per cent hike in the tax for maxi cabs and demanded their immediate withdrawal.