R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
JTOs’ DEMAND: The Junior Telecom Officers Association on Sunday demanded the registration of a suicide case against certain senior officials of the Telecom Department who had allegedly driven Ashok Kumar to suicide. Mr Jaswinder Singh, district president of the association, threatened to paralyse the telecom services in the district if the police failed to register the case.

ROAD TAX HIKE: Expressing concern over the increase in road tax on tourist buses by the Jammu and Kashmir Government, Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, a BJP leader, on Sunday demanded the Prime Minister to withdraw the hike. She threatened to launch an agitation against the move, according to a press statement.

BARETA
MISAPPROPRIATION: As many as 30,132 bags of paddy belonging to Markfed, valued at more than Rs 1 crore, have been shown to have disappeared by a local rice miller. Markfed had given 47,240 bags of paddy to Vishnu Rice Mills for milling against which the rice miller gave 19 consignments of rice accounting for 17,108 bags and leaving 30,132 bags of paddy with the rice miller. On June 3, 2002, the rice miller claimed that these bags had disappeared. Markfed accused Vishnu Rice Mills of misappropriation of its paddy stocks.

LUDHIANA
CELEBRATIONS: The management of Gurdwara Chhevi Patshai, CMC chowk, and the Guru Hargobind Seva Society will jointly celebrate the birthday of Guru Hargobind Singh from June 23 to 25. A ‘parbhat pheri’ will be taken out at 5 am on June 23 from the gurdwara which will pass en route Khud Mohalla, Gurdwara Guru Arjan Dev, Old Civil Hospital road, Kalgidhar chowk, Neem chowk, Khwaja Kothi, division No 3 and Baba Thaan Singh Singh chowk before culminating at the starting point. On June 25, a ‘kirtan smagam’ will be held from morning till 2 pm and a ‘kirtan darbar’ will be held from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Mr Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, will be a special guest on the occasion. 

MOGA
ARRESTED: On information from Interpol, the local police on Sunday arrested Raghbir Singh Gill , son of Sudagar Singh, a local resident. There were charges of first degree murder of a prostitute, Rupinder Kaur Sanghera, against Gill in Canada. Gill was produced before the local Chief Judicial Magistrate who remanded him in judicial custody. The Canadian Government has sought extradition of Gill.

EVADING ARREST: A number of supporters of former Punjab Education Minister Tota Singh in the region have gone underground to evade arrest after the arrest of their leader. Before the arrest of Tota Singh, three of his staunch supporters, including senior Akali leader and president of the local municipal council, Dr Kuldip Singh Gill, general secretary of the SAD, Nidharak Singh, and Sarpanch Jugraj Singh Daudhar had been arrested by the Vigilance Department from here.

BANNED: The Deputy Commissioner, Mr G. Romesh Kumar, has banned the holding of sale bazars of vehicles to prevent the sale of stolen vehicles. The police had arrested several gangs operating in the district from whom a large number of cars and scooters had been recovered, the SSP, Mr Virender Kumar, said on Monday. 

PATIALA
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Lions Club (Central): president — Mr R.K. Saigal; secretary — Mr T.C. Sharma; treasurer — Mr Rajinder Mohan; and public relations officer — Mr H.S. Bedi.

PHAGWARA
GRANT RELEASED: The much-awaited grant of Rs 18 crore of the last quarter of last year has been released by the Punjab Government to private aided colleges. The sanction of Rs 21.34 crore on account of arrears of pay revision has also been communicated.

UGC GUIDELINES: The DPI(C), Punjab, will evolve a mechanism to ensure that UGC guidelines are strictly implemented in colleges. As per these guidelines, the minimum stay of 30 hours a week by teachers will be ensured.

ROPAR
MINISTER’S APPEAL: Dr Ramesh Dutt Sharma, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, on Sunday exhorted mediapersons to work with missionary spirit to eliminate social evils. He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the office of a local fortnightly here.

TARN TARAN
TEN POs NABBED: The local police has nabbed 10 proclaimed offenders in May. The local DSP gave this information to mediapersons here on Sunday.

HARYANA

AMBALA
SCHOOL FUNCTION: A cultural function was held at SMV Public School, Ambala City. The Superintendent of Police, Ambala, Mr Manoj Yadava, was the chief guest. The show was a blend of Indo-western culture. Bharatnatyam, western and kathak performances, were appreciated by the audience, a release said. Besides dance performances, karate show and solo singing performances were also well received. A painting exhibition was also held. Mr Subhash Jain, president of the school, said the school would be upgraded to the secondary level in the next three years.

INAUGURATION: New science block of SA Jain College, Ambala City, will be inaugurated on Sunday. According to the secretary of the management committee, Mr Kirti Prashad Jain, the block had been set up in the memory of Amar Chand Jain. Mr Surender Kumar Jain, an industrial of Ludhiana would be the chief guest. Mr Jain said evening classes for MA (economics) would also start from this session.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
FINANCIAL AID: The Himachal Pradesh Khadi and Gramodyog Board has advanced financial assistance worth Rs 56 lakh to 18 industrial units through various government-sector banks under the Consortium Bank Credit Programme in Chamba district. Giving this information here on Monday, the Deputy Commissioner said under the margin money scheme, 12 schemes had been approved and Rs 37 lakh had been provided.