R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
PENSION DELAYED: Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP leader, has complained that a large number of persons are waiting in vain for the release of their old age and widow pensions for the past many months. Similarly, the release of pension for militancy-hit families, is also being delayed by the authorities who have failed to assign any reason for the delay. She appealed to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to intervene.

THEATRE WORKSHOP: Noted writer, Prof J.N. Kaushal, of the National School of Drama, inaugurated a month-long theatre workshop at Guru Nanak University here on Thursday. The workshop is being held by the National School of Drama in collaboration with the Manch-Rangmanch and the university. Thirty theatre artistes are taking part in the workshop.

BATHINDA
HOMAGE: Members of the district unit of the BKU (Ekta) on Friday paid homage to those farmers who were killed in Haryana during the recent rift between the administration and the farmers. While addressing the meeting held here on Friday various BKU (Ekta) leaders condemned the adamant attitude of the Chautala government in Haryana and asked him to accept all demands of farmers.

DHARNA: Members of the Technical Services Union of Bathinda division on Friday held a dharna in front of the local subdivisional office. They were protesting against the decision of PSEB to abolish the 15,000 posts in the department. Mr Randhir Singh, divisional president, while addressing the members said many posts were lying vacant in the department which should be filled immediately to increase the efficiency of the department.

DRY DAYS: Mr Babu Lal, District Magistrate, has issued orders to close the liquor shops, beer bars, clubs and restaurants serving liquor under the jurisdiction of Muktsar on June 9 and 10. The orders have been issued keeping in view the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections.

ARRESTED: The two accused in a rape case of a minor Dalit girl have been arrested under Sections 363, 366, 376, 306 and 34 of the IPC. In a press note issued here on Friday the district police chief, Mr Ishwar Singh, said one of the accused, Rajwinder Singh, a resident of Bhagta Bhai village, was once a driver of the Jeep owned by the deceased’s father. On June 1, the victim, a student of plus one, was waiting at a bus stop of Kesar Singh Walia village along with her younger brother. They were offered a lift by the accused and Sukhpreet Singh. The accused, after travelling some distance pushed the brother and raped her. She managed to reach home and set herself ablaze and later she succumbed to her injuries.

LUDHIANA
CEREMONY: The annual congregation at Dera Baba Rassian, Kidwai Nagar, would be held on June 13 and 14, according to a spokesman of the organising committee. Several mahants, faqirs and artists would participate in the function. A special honouring ceremony would be held at 10 am on June 16, added the spokesman.

SATSANG CONCLUDES: A six-day annual ‘bhakti gyan yajna’ held under the aegis of the Amritwani Satsang Gyan Yajna Samiti at Shri Gopal Mandir in Janakpuri concluded here on Thursday. Brahamchari Ram Parkash ji Maharaj, head of Shriram Sharnam Ashram, Naulakha Bagh Colony, delivering his discourse at the concluding session said internal purification was necessary before inculcating divine qualities. Earlier on his arrival, the brahmchari was given a rousing welcome among others by Pandit Sanjeev Kumar, the temple priest, Mr Ashwini Khosla, president of the temple trust, Mr Ram Pal, Mr Ashwini Kumar, Mr Ashok Gupta, Mr Subhash Verma and Mr Virender Joshi.

FUNCTION: The Shri Radha Gobind Rasik Mandal would organise an evening dedicated to Lord Krishna at Tagore Hall in Tagore Nagar on Saturday. Among the prominent saints and hymn-singers, who are likely to participate in the function, are Rameshwar Sharma and Swami Bua Ditta ji Maharaj. Mr Sudhir Sehgal would light the holy flame at 8.30 pm. The Shri Shyama Shyam Sankirtan Mandli would also captivate the audience with their hymn-singing.

CAMP: On the Occasion of the 13th barsi bhandara of Sant Darshan Singhji Maharaj, the founder of Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission, a blood donation camp was organised in collaboration with the Red Cross Society of India. About 260 units of blood were donated by volunteers at the camp held at Kirpal Bagh on Friday. It was inaugurated by Sant Rajinder Singhji Maharaj, head of the mission. 

MANDI GOBINDGARH
CERTIFICATE: The Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences has received ISO-9002 certificate, according to Dr Zora Singh, Chairman, Desh Bhagat Group of Institutes. The Chairman handed over the certificate to the Director of the institute, Ms Shalini Gupta, at a function held here on Thursday.

MOGA
ELECTROCUTED: A farmer of Bilaspur village in this district was electrocuted on Thursday when he touched a live wire reportedly lying in his fields. According to reports, the wire fell from the overhead wire after the area was hit by a storm. The police has registered a case.

BAN IMPOSED: District Magistrate G Romesh Kumar on Friday imposed Section 144 of the Cr PC throughout the district banning processions and assembly of five more persons to maintain law and order during zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections. He also directed all marriage palaces in the district to refrain from playing songs and orchestra after 11 p.m. Marriage and religious processions are exempted from the ban.

POLL OBSERVER: Special Secretary Transport Narinderjit Singh has been appointed observer for zila parishad and panchayat samiti poll. The observer will stay in PWD Rest House in Moga from Friday onwards. Additional Deputy Commissioner H.L. Kumar said those wanting to collect information regarding elections could meet him in the rest house.

HARYANA

AMBALA
WATER SHORTAGE: The Ambala City block Youth Congress committee president, Mr Vikram Tanwar, criticised the water shortage in local colonies here on Friday. Mr Tanwar said some tubewells were malfunctioning which had resulted in water shortage. He said the Youth Congress would hold a demonstration on June 17 in this regard. 

HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
TOLL TAX BARRIER: The Himachal Pradesh State Truck Operators’ Federation has taken strong exception to the continuation of toll tax barrier at Suharghat near here though it is located 12-km inside Himachal Pradesh from the Punjab border. Addressing mediapersons here on Friday the president of the state unit of the federation, Mr Ramdass Thakur, pointed towards the anomaly and urged the Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, and the Excise and Taxation Minister, Mr Praveen Sharma, to relocate the barrier near the Bilaspur-Punjab border at Garamoda.

HAMIRPUR
DONATION: Mrs Leela Devi, mother of a martyr, Rakesh Kumar, has donated Rs 60,000 for the construction of a school building at Beer Daghera. Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal, Parliamentary Secretary Urmila Thakur and Chairman of the Zila Parishad Pyare Lal were present on the occasion.

YOUTH ON DHARNA: Mr Pradeep Kumar, a disabled youth of Ropa village of the district, has been on a dharna outside the office of the District Education Officer (Primary) for the past nine days. He claims that Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had given orders to appoint him as a water carrier either at Chabutra or Khaih schools. However, he said he was denied job by the department. Mr Rattan Chand, Superintendent at the office of the DEO (Primary) said the case has been referred to the Shimla office for clarification as there was no vacancy for the past at these two schools.

KANGRA
TOURISM PROMOTION: In order to make travel on the Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway section more comfortable and to boost tourism the Railways will spend Rs 72 lakh on replacements and servicing of the old railway engines. Starting this here on Friday, Mr R.K. Singh, General Manager, Northern Railway, said the project would be completed within a year.

FATAL FIRE: A 60-year-old man was burnt alive on Wednesday in a bush fire which he had lighted at Badoh falling under Dhera subdivision of the district. According to the police, Hira Lal of Nainpukhar village put the forest bushes on fire at Badoh which spread very fast due to strong wind and he was engulfed in the flames.

EMPLOYEE KILLED: An employee of the Irrigation and Public Health was killed on the spot when a tree fell on his jeep at Katiya village near Dherian in Dhera subdivision of the district on Wednesday. Nawabudin, alias Babu Ram, a driver, was driving his official jeep when he was caught in a storm and a uprooted tree fell on the vehicle.

KASAULI
BAD ROADS: Digging of roads in and around the town by the MES has left the roads uneven and muddy and become a cause of concern for hoteliers in the region. The work to replace old water pipes, continuing for more than a month, is causing inconvenience to the residents as well as tourists.

PARWANOO
NO RAIN SHELTER: Residents have demanded that a rain shelter be built at the temporary bus stop here on the Kalka-Shimla national highway. The residents complain that buses disembark passengers at the roadside only. Hundreds of people have to wait for buses in the open, facing sun and rain. There is no drinking water arrangement at the bus stop, they say. The residents, the local senior citizen association and other social organisations have urged the local administration and the Nagar Parishad to construct a rain shelter and make drinking water arrangement at the bus stop.

SHIMLA
ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of the HP Labour Department Officers and Inspectors Association: chief parton — Mr S.C. Awasthi; parton — Mr R.K. Sandhu; president — Mr Ranbir Sipahiya; vice-president — Mr J.S. Negi; general secretary — Mr Padam Dev Sahram; joint secretary — Mr R.P. Rana; and treasurer — Mr Prithvi Singh.

SOLAN
ROBBERY CASE SOLVED: With the arrest of two persons, Jitendra, alias Kaadu of Sansiwala and Raj Kumar of Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, the police has solved the case of a daylight robbery at Batoli Kalan, near Baddi. The two had allegedly waylaid Jai Pal, an assistant librarian of Government High School, Gharer, near Baddi, while he was returning after drawing the school staff’s salary.