R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
BOOKED: The police has booked Kishan Pal, Ram Kumar, Ramesh Kumar and Shiv Parkash for allegedly looting gold jewellery worth Rs 4.30 lakh and Rs 70,000 in cash from a shop in April, this year. In a case registered on Sunday, the owner of the shop, Mr Vijay Kumar, said the accused had been working in his shop for the past five years.

MEMORANDUM : Members of the Gazetted and Non-gazetted SC/BC Employees Welfare Federation on Monday presented a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. The memorandum highlighted the discriminatory treatment meted out to them. The members also demanded implementation of the Mandal Commission report, besides more reservations in various government concerns.

ADMISSIONS OPEN: Admissions to the one-year certificate course in French, Russian, German and Japanese ( part-time) and diploma course in French and Russian (full time) is open to candidates having a minimum qualification of plus two, said a spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Languages at Guru Nanak Dev University.

RADIO PROGRAMME: Prof Sandeep Sharma , a lecturer in computer sciences in the local DAV college, has started a series for All India Radio, Jalandhar. The programme called ‘Smart Computers’ will be broadcast every Monday at 5.10 p.m. in the ‘Yuv Vani’ slot and would explain computer related terms in simple and easy Punjabi.

AGITATION: Employees of Punjab and Sind Bank have threatened to stage dharna to press for their demands, including promotion to officer cadre for the clerical staff with 20 years of service, posting of guards in branches and extension counters functioning without adequate security and compulsory retirement for ‘tainted’ officials. Mr Jagir Singh, general secretary of the All-India Punjab and Sind Bank Staff Federation, said on Monday that the employees would stage a dharna before the zonal office on June 20 in support of their demands.

BATHINDA
ARRESTED: The police has arrested four persons for allegedly smuggling narcotics and illegal distillation of liquor. SSP Ishwar Singh said on Monday that Bhola Singh of Bhagta and Mehta Singh of Bambiha Bhai were arrested for possessing 20 kg of poppy husk each. Meanwhile, Gurjant Singh of Selbrah was arrested with 20 kg of lahan and Dara Singh of Mehraj with 15 kg of lahan.

GIRL TOPS EXAM: Anju Bansal of the city has secured the first position in the examination of M.Sc., information technology (first semester), conducted by Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar. She secured 375 marks out of 500 marks and stood first in the zone comprising Bathinda, Mansa and Faridkot districts.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Maheshwari Sabha: president — Mr P.P. Maheshwari; vice-presidents — Mr Pawan Chand Holani and Mr Inder Mohan Holani; general secretary — Mr Jagdish Chander Mantri; assistant secretary — Mr Sunil Kumar, and treasurer — Mr Harish Chander Lakhotia.

ELECTED: The following have been elected office-bearers of different blocks of the Unemployed Teachers’ Front in the district. Block Bathinda: president — Ms Harkirat Kaur; senior vice-president — Ms Surinder Kaur; vice-president — Ms Sukhwant Kaur; junior vice-president — Ms Sharanjeet Kaur. Block Sangat: president — Mr Ranjeet Singh Riar; senior vice-president— Ms Harvinder Kaur Bajak; vice-president — Ms Harsharan Kaur. Block Maur: president — Mr Atarjeet Singh; senior vice-president — Mr Harpal Singh; vice-president— Mr Harbans Singh Jodhpur Pakhar. Block Talwandi Sabo: president — Mr Gurmej Singh; and senior vice-president — Ms Sunita Sharma.

HOSHIARPUR
PROTEST: Resentment prevails among the employees of the local municipal council against the police for not taking action against those who allegedly assaulted Mr Baljit Singh, a driver of the council, when he and other employees was demolishing a speed breaker in the Model Town area a couple of days back. In a press note issued on Monday Mr Kulwant Singh Saini, general secretary, Punjab Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangthan, said the Executive Officer of the council had lodged a complaint on May 14 against residents of the locality, but no action had been taken so far.

THEFT IN SCHOOL: Some miscreants broke open locks of Government Middle School, Samundra, and stole ceiling fans, folding beds, water coolers and books. The Garhshanker police has registered a case in this connection.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Pharmacists Association of the Hoshiarpur district: president — Mr Satpal Lath; senior vice- president — Mr Parminder Singh; general secretary — Mr Surinder Ghai; finance secretary- Mr Dharampal Singh; auditor — Mr Puran Bhagat; joint secretary — Mr Inderjit Singh Virdi; and advisor — Mr Gopal Dass Malhotra

SEIZED: The Mukerian police arrested Paramjit alias Pamma of Naushera Pattan on Monday and seized 2 kg of opium from him.

DOWRY CASE: The Sadar police registered a case against Rakesh Kumar, his father Som Nath Verma, mother Darshan Devi, brother Vijay Kumar, sister Neeru Korwal, and brother-in-law Mukesh Korwal, all residents of Ganesh Nagar,Janak Puri, Ludhiana, on a complaint by Seema Rani of Pandori Bibi village on Monday. She has alleged that the aforesaid persons tortured her for bringing inadequate dowry.

BIGAMY CASE: An NRI from the UK, Mr Harveer Singh, has got an FIR registered against his brother-in-law Kulwinder Singh of Bhagol village, who at present is residing in England. In his complaint, Mr Harveer Singh alleged that the Kulwinder Singh, who had married with his sister Tarminder Kaur in 1994, came back to India about 15 days ago and married Kulwinder Kaur of Chak Hajipur village. The police has registered a case.

LUDHIANA
WORKSHOP: As many as 50 students from six city schools will participate in a five-day cultural workshop being organised by SpicMacay at Dehradun from June 19 to 23. Stating this in a press note, Mr Naveen Talwar, coordinator of the workshop, said students from Bharatiya Vidya Mandir, Kundan Vidya Mandir, DAV Public School, BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School and GRD Academy would participate in a variety of activities like dance, music, puppetry, drama and folk songs.

MEDICAL CAMP: Jyoti Kendra Charitable General Hospital will organise a free medical check-up camp on the hospital premises on Wednesday. Mr Hitendra Jain, general secretary of the hospital, said in a press note on Tuesday that the patients would be examined in the departments of gynaecology, obstetrics, paediatrics and dentistry. Patients will be provided medicines and vaccines free of cost. All operations, procedures and laboratory tests will be done at subsidised rates. 

JAGRAN: The Jai Durga Sudhar Sabha held its 14th annual Bhagwati jagran at Gandhi Nagar under the supervision of its president, Mr Baldev Singh, on Monday. A shobha yatra of the holy flame from Jwalaji was taken out before the start of the jagran and the jagran was inaugurated by Mr Parminder Mehta, a youth Congress activist. Among others present on the occasion were Mr Som Nath Miglani, Mr Ajay Malhotra, Mr Manohar Lal, Mr Sita Ram Shankar, Ms Sunita Sharma, Mr Raghuvir Singh, SHO, Division No. 4, and Mr. Girdhari Lal.

PATIALA
DHARNA: The Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) workers organised a protest march and dharna at the bus stand here on Tuesday to protest against the recommendation of the Punjab Public Sector Disinvestment Commission, which they said had recommended the dismantling of the PRTC. Addressing the gathering, several members of the PRTC Workers Action Committee warned that the workers would be forced to intensify their agitation if the recommendations of the disinvestment committee are accepted by the state government. The committee members also said that the government has failed to take any steps to stop the illegally plying private buses which has resulted in a loss of around Rs 70 crore to the PRTC.

DATE EXTENDED: The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has extended the date of its voluntary disclosure scheme (VDS) for regularisation of unauthorised agricultural power load upto July 1. The PSEB authorities said this has been done on the persistent demand of the farming community and there would be no further extension in the validity of this scheme.

DC’s ORDERS: The Deputy Commissioner of Patiala, Mr Tejveer Singh, issued instructions on Tuesday to the public regarding the use of military uniforms and military colour vehicles by persons other than those belonging to the armed forces. In a statement issued here, the DC said strict action would be taken against any non-military person found wearing an army uniform or driving vehicles of colour authorised to be used only by armed forces personnel.

ELECTED: 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.

SAHNEWAL
BHANDARA: An annual bhandara of Baba Shahdin Kadawale (of Malerkotla) will be held at Sahnewal on the Ramgarh road, near Bibi Bulara gas godown, on June 20 (Thursday).

CHANDIGARH

ELECTED: Major-Gen Rajendra Nath (retd) has been elected director of the Strategic Research Centre. Dr Rakesh Datta was elected secretary of the centre. Members of the centre include Air Marshal R.S. Bedi, Col D.S. Chema, Lieut Col K.S.Rudra, Col P.K. Vasudeva, Mr G.V. Gupta and Mr Baljit Rai.

HARYANA

AMBALA
DEMAND: The president of the state unit of the All India Anti-Terrorist Front, Dr Veeresh Shandilya, on Tuesday met the family members of soldier Sunil Kumar at Bharedi village. He was killed in an accident in the Valley. Dr Shandilya demanded that the family members of the soldier should be extended all possible assistance by the Haryana Government. He also demanded a job for soldier’s wife and free education at a local school for his two children.

SUGAR DISBURSED: Around 930 quintal of sugar has been disbursed at subsidised rate among those living below the poverty line during the past month. The pink card holders get 1 kg of sugar every month at subsidised rates. An official said whosesale and retail prices of kerosene oil have also been set. Action would be taken against those persons found selling kerosene oil above the price set by the government.

FARMERS PAID: Sugarcane farmers are being paid for their produce by the Banoundi sugar mill. An official said 132 sugarcane farmers were paid Rs 11 lakh on Monday, while 140 sugarcane farmers were paid Rs 12.93 lakh on Tuesday.

KALKA
ONE KILLED: A tractor driver was killed on the spot and 11 others were injured when a tractor-trailer rolled down into a 150-feet deep gorge, near here on Monday. The victims were on their way to a brick-kiln on the Nalagarh road. Except for the driver, identified as Pal Singh, all the victims were from UP. A four-year-old boy and Suraj Pal (30) were taken to the PGI, Chandigarh, while others were taken to the local Civil Hospital.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

DHARAMSALA
E-GOVERNANCE: With the setting up of an e-governance centre, here, Kangra has become the first district in the state to adopt IT for administrative works. Mr Prabodh Saxena, Deputy Commissioner, said the centre had been set up at a cost of Rs 20 lakh and would provide services, including issuing of arms and driving licences and vehicle registration besides registration of deeds and documents.

HAMIRPUR
DHARNA: Activists of the CPM and other organisations, led by Mr Kashmir Singh Thakur, staged a day-long dharna in front of the district courts in protest against the alleged anti-youth stance of the state government, especially in the recruitments made by the HP Subordinate Selection Board, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank and Himachal Pradesh University. They later submitted memorandum to the Governor through the Hamirpur Deputy Commissioner.

RECRUITMENT: The process of recruitment of ex-servicemen in the Himachal Pradesh police has been completed in Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Shimla, Kinnaur, Kulu and Lahaul Spiti district. Letters have also been despatched for completing the process in Solan district on June 19, Nahan on June 23 and Kangra and Chamba on June 27, said Brig B.D. Dogra (retd), Chairman of the HP Ex-servicemen Corporation, on Tuesday.

OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the local branch of the All India Postal Union: Mr Gainda Ram — president; Mr Jai Singh — vice-president; Mr Data Ram — general secretary; Mr Madan Gopal — vice-secretary; and Mr Om Parkash — treasurer.